Our lives are changing and so are the
prints we order and produce. Inkjet is
unique not only in the breadth of
print applications addressed, but also
in the range of devices, from
inexpensive entry-level solutions to
high-end, lights-out production lines.
This can take away the risk of moving
into new print applications and
allows exploring new opportunities
for print.
There are now more than eight billion people on this
planet. We can travel and exchange data and information
around the globe. Our habits and our communication have
changed. It is no surprise that print is changing as well.
While some traditional print applications are fading away,
others are remarkably resilient, while new application areas
keep popping up.
Printing companies are adapting to this trend and are
adding additional print applications as brands are looking for
new ways to promote, publishers to distribute content and
consumers to embellish their living. Demand can come from
all kinds of customer groups, especially for small runs and
quick turnaround times. Nowadays, a web presence makes it
easy to showcase and promote new products, with
recommendation algorithms - it will be AI in the future -
aiming at upselling or presenting additional products.
One challenge remains: these new applications need to be
produced first. Sometimes a partnership with another print
service supplier is the best option. In other cases, keeping
production capacity in-house makes more sense to be
quick, flexible, and retain more of the value-adding
processes. Especially equipment that can be used for a
variety of applications or that offers a low investment point
can be helpful to take advantage of new opportunities.
As a print technology analyst, I am still surprised to find
inkjet at the heart of so many possibilities. Inkjet helped to
democratize the printing equipment market, as a supplier
can choose and combine inkjet heads, inks, drying, and substrate support from a wide array of providers. There are
more than 20 inkjet head manufacturers and a much larger
number of inkjet ink manufacturers active in the industry.
Substrate transport can be sourced from many companies,
and even old printing or finishing equipment can be
repurposed. Furthermore, there are inherent technological
advantages in inkjet: it is a true non-impact process and can,
at least theoretically, print on a wide range of substrates and
shapes.
Accordingly, solutions differ a lot and diverse markets are
being addressed. Label printing has seen a great boom in
recent years with more than 40 inkjet label press models on
offer today. Corrugated gained traction next, with about a
dozen single pass presses on offer currently. Folding carton
and flexible packaging printing solutions have been slower to
emerge, but several inkjet press models have recently
entered or are about to launch in these markets. Printing on
metal, either beverage cans or sheet metal, is growing as
well. In all segments, full-blown production inkjet devices
start to rival the productivity of conventional presses,
although at price points rivalling high-end presses as well.
There are lower-priced alternatives however that allow
printing on labels, cans, or pouches starting at low five-figure
investments. Scanning head large format printers can be a
cost-efficient alternative for flat packaging materials, also
starting at similar low investment amounts. Although
productivity is low and often limitations in materials and
quality exist, it is worth inquiring about the market
opportunities that could be addressed. An alternative for
exploring new opportunities are inkjet presses that allow
branching out into additional applications like the B2 inkjet
presses from Fujifilm, Konica Minolta, or Komori and the B1
presses from Landa. With a wide range of substrates and
weights possible, customers are using these presses for a
variety of applications.
Sometimes the strength of inkjet lies in processes after the
main packaging or commercial print has been performed.
Unique effects can be created by layering clear inkjet ink to
create raised, tactile surfaces. Duplo, MGI, Scodix and
Steinemann offer solutions for embellishing sheets. Koenig &
Bauer Kammann expanded this to texture printing on
spherical containers.
Beyond commercial and packaging print plenty of
additional markets exist, often under the radar of the
commercial printing industry. Decorative prints on flooring,
panels, ceramics, glass, and many other surfaces are being
addressed by inkjet. Even full wallpaper factories exist that
can turn custom designs into completely prepared rolls of
wallpaper. Home decoration experienced a boom during the
pandemic and with expanding technical possibilities more
surfaces can and will be decorated. Also, in textiles and
garment printing inkjet is enjoying a rapid uptake. From soft
signage to interior textiles to fabrics for fashion or printing on
complete pieces of garment – opportunities are manifold,
and solutions exist for all application areas. Again, low priced
entry models offer a low-risk entry for small volumes, while
high-end production lines are tackling industrial production
needs.
Not all substrates are flat however but inkjet solutions exist
for printing on three-dimensional objects. Roland DG and
Mutoh recently showcased new printers to print on smaller
objects and merchandise. The Monster Jet from Azonprinter
can even print on objects up to one metre high. For even
bigger surfaces, direct-to-shape printing with robot arms has
been proposed already. Several projects exist; however, this
is still in an early phase of commercialisation.
The possibilities with inkjet do not stop at the surface. 3D
printing opens the door for additive manufacturing. Inkjet in
3D print can take advantage of the inkjet innovations
developed for other markets and benefits from the scale of
use in heads, inks, and control electronics. Even if a 3Dprinted
end product is significantly different from a printed
piece of paper, printing companies can have a competitive
edge by weighing in their knowledge in data handling, colour
management, customer contacts and logistics.
Finally, if you can’t find the right solution for a specific print
requirement available on the market, inkjet integrators can
help to tailor a solution. Companies like Bergstein, Cadis,
Colordyne, or Neos offer the consulting and engineering
services required to assemble a custom printer. Alternatively,
users can set up their own solution by investing in a print bar
and drives electronics from suppliers like Domino, Fujifilm,
HP, Kodak and others. Memjet just launched the Durabolt
print bar, called a “print engine in a box”. Of course, building
your own integrated printer is more complicated than just
buying a print bar, however thousands of imprinting solutions
are being operated today already.
The beauty of inkjet is the simplicity of the process,
resulting often in devices with few moving parts. In some
cases, operating a device is a push-button operation,
making set-up and operation easy. An advantage not to be
underestimated in times of labour shortages. Obviously,
high-end printers can get complex and demanding to
operate. However, with inkjet, there is always the opportunity
to start small and try out markets with manageable risk and
investment and to grow when demand develops.
Finally, technology is not a means by itself. A business
plan or at least a business idea needs to come before any
investment. I do strongly recommend however to get out and
explore where future market opportunities are popping up.
Print is used in a lot more places than on plain sheets of paper. Creativity founded the printing industry, so get
inspired by print applications produced at trade shows, open
houses, seminars, or user group events.
Admittedly, with the myriad of possibilities keeping an
overview is challenging. drupa 2024 will be a great
opportunity to experience a wide range of applications in one
place and get information from known and unfamiliar
vendors firsthand. It is time to leave the comfort zone and
explore the halls you have not been to before and visit the
touchpoint and drupa next age events running alongside the
exhibition. |
