Technology | What to Watch
I expect there to be new package prototyping
opportunities. Until now, packaging prototyping - particularly those involving the metallic images so popular on consumer product shelves - could not be done without extensive cooperation between the printer and someone with die cutting capability. Large-format printers should capture a significant share of the package prototype market with the new offerings now available. Again, the ability to do or coordinate graphic design will become critical, as will the ability to do extended colour gamut work.
FUJIFILM
SHAUN HOLDOM, MARKETING MANAGER, HIGH END PRODUCTS, WIDE FORMAT INKJET SYSTEMS
According to reports from strategists in our market, leading products are, and will be, hybrid printing solutions. In light of this, we’re shifting our focus to improving the speed and versatility of our machines, particularly for current and future hybrids.
Automation will be relied on more as print speeds improve and production processes outpace humans. This is why another focus area for Fujifilm is auxiliary products for our printing solutions, from sheet-feeding systems to master and larger roll feeding systems, while still offering quick turn arounds for smaller, higher value jobs. The intuitiveness of printers, as well as their capability to interact with customer workflow, will be key too. And sustainability will remain important. As printing businesses transition to materials that are easier to recycle and have a lower footprint, inks will need to become even more compliant and environmentally friendly. PSPs will not only need to ensure their ink products are in-line with compliance now, but that the manufacturer has the resource to continue developing its inks to comply with regulations in the future. As ink usage is now important to customers when deciding the right product to use, energy consumption will become just as important. Having the ability to measure and include energy usage as part of the cost of output will be a key element used for pricing a job. To summarise - I think speed, automation,
workflow, energy consumption and ROI costs will impact large format inkjet in the future.
HP JAVIER LARRAZ, LARGE FORMAT PRODUCTION CATEGORY DIRECTOR TERENCE RAGHUNATH, LARGE FORMAT PRODUCTION WW AND EMEA SALES
Larraz: There’s been more interest on solutions that give customers additional possibilities in terms of materials, effects, quality, and in solutions that are more eco-friendly in terms of recycling, emissions, carbon footprint. We’re also seeing more interest in end-to-end solutions that include not only the printing element, but the preparation of jobs and overall production management.
Vendors will innovate along those lines, pushing
quality, sustainability and overall operational efficiency. This is very aligned to what HP is doing with the 3 Ss of our strategy - stunning quality, streamlined operations, sustainability.
THE PRINT INDUSTRY HAS TO SERIOUSLY START TO LOOK BEYOND JUST THE OVENS [PRINTERS] AND THINK IN TERMS OF
THE WHOLE KITCHEN. TERENCE RAGHUNATH
Raghunath: What is really making the difference is immediacy. E-commerce has flourished and we are now all used to getting what we want instantly. The same goes for print. Any PSP who can deliver quality original products fast is going to win. Other impacts will include sustainability. Many companies and brands have done their due diligence and the real change here is that now, it is the customer who is demanding more sustainability as opposed to just governments and regulatory entities. The challenge will be to find ways to offer sustainability at affordable cost. I see a trend towards inline, automated, simplified, and easy to use solutions too. Automated solutions are not new, but I believe that the print industry has to seriously start to look beyond just the ‘ovens’ (printers) and think in terms of the whole kitchen.
INKTEC
IAN WINDEBANK, JETRIX EUROPEAN SALES AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT JULIAN MENNELL, NATIONAL HARDWARE SALES MANAGER
Windebank: Businesses are going to be even more keen to invest in printing machines that support sustainability. With UV LED being a key innovation over the past five years, plus rising electricity costs, interest will shift significantly to be centred on lower overall power consumption.
Hidden within this will be the impact of any changes in regulations or environmental standards relating to consumables. This legislation is likely to start coming even more rapidly now as the physical impact of climate change is being felt. The drive for ever higher resolution, more accurate drop placement, faster printing speeds, and better colour accuracy is creating demand for more advanced and efficient printhead technology. Coupling this with demands for greater production speeds and larger print sizes, all this is forcing innovation in large-format flatbed printers. The appeal of their adaptability is also making them more competitive in terms of the variety and format of applications.
Mennell: The rise of automation and robotics is likely to lead to greater integration in flatbed systems, which will no doubt increase efficiencies and free up manual labour. The resulting technology will also enhance precision and enable continuous production.
Indications across Europe are that despite UV flatbed purchases being the most likely choice in the next couple of years, purchasing interest is down. So, the machines making it to market, will have to out-deliver expectations at all pricing levels.
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