Digital Printing & Finishing A look atdigital printing Q & A with Marcus Timson, co-founder of InPrint
Q: How has digital printing affected the industry?What are the benefits? A: Digital inkjet provides a converter with
new options and flexible production, but it is not a replacement technology. Brands and retailers want new ways of reaching people, so it is just a matter of time before it is used to a greater degree. Converters need to recognise that inkjet does not have to disrupt your core production, as it adds value by providing unique performance advantages that are not possible with analogue production. A big development trend is direct to
shape cylinder printing onto cans/plastic cylinders. Direct inkjet printing offers tremendous opportunities for producers, as it removes the need for a label and enables fast response and short batch production as well as late stage customisation. The ability for late stage customisation is
very compelling for producers and many end brands are looking at ways of developing print solutions for this within their own organisation. And for the converter who is reluctant to adopt digital inkjet in anyway at all, there is a threat. According to our research, FMCG brands and retailers are looking at integrating inkjet themselves so they can react later to changing demand and conditions. Initially, for flexible packaging, inkjet has
been deployed as a prototype technology. It provides the designers with the chance to easily see a design and then test it in a store to see how it works. This has certainly been the case for primary packaging runs. However for flexible packaging the technical challenges, particularly for ink development, are significant and according to our research, we see inkjet playing a bigger role in flexible packaging in the next 2-5 years. Q: How havemachines/systems changed to incorporate digital?
effectively and quickly, being flexible and variable and not having the design restrictions of having a large stock inventory. Q:What does thismean for converters or
producers of packaging/labellingmaterials? A: Now is the time to be investing in
A: For labelling there has been an increase
in recent years of the development of hybrid machines. This is in part down to the fact that many labelling plants are so heavily invested in analogue production that to make a large capital investment in a pure digital inkjet machine represents a large and significant risk. Hybrid machines enable the flexibility of digital without sacrificing analogue or indeed disrupting existing production too much. Also we have seen the development of other hybrid type technologies, such as Xaar’s print bar that can be applied to a traditional flexographic machine again to provide some of the value that digital can offer. For the corrugated and folding carton
market we see inkjet playing a role in adapting flat-bed inkjet machinery developed for point of sale printing. Retailers want product in store as quickly as possible and a technology that can both enable this and provide focused marketing solutions in the same breath is going to have appeal. So digital has the advantages of being able to produce short runs cost
inkjet in some way. But digital does not have to disrupt and replace. The inkjet development community have a challenge that most of the converting industry do not properly understand the unique value proposition of inkjet. So they tend to discard it. This is dangerous as failing to plan for the future is likely to mean that when inkjet is used more, these converters will be following the trend as opposed to leading it placing their business at a disadvantage. Q:What do you think the future holds for
digital printing and the printing industry? A: Print is finding a new place in the mix
for packaging and commercial printing. Digital marketing, online and social media campaigns may be fashionable and here to stay, but print has a value that is emotive, memorable, high quality and it will endure. With the added flexibility and targeting potential that digital can provide, it is a potent ally for a marketer to reach out to people, to persuade and inspire business. The future is exciting for digital inkjet and the converter that gets involved now is best placed for continued success.
uwww.inprintshow.com/germany
InPrint Germany, 2017
Focusing on functional, decorative and packaging printing, the next InPrint Germany will be held November 14-16, 2017 in Munich. InPrint will present highly advanced
printing technologies and customised printing solutions for application in industrial production. Focusing on functional, decorative and packaging printing, the specialised exhibition will showcase the latest technologies, components and services for digital, speciality, screen, inkjet and 3D printing. This third edition will once again be held
at the Munich Trade Fair Centre, in Germany, co-located with productronica, the trade fair for electronics development and production. Read more on the Converter website.
20 April 2017
www.convertermag.co.uk
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