Production Print trends

1. Digital presses – Commercial printers are looking for ways to bring the work that they currently outsource back into their business to reduce lead times, increase flexibility and ultimately, to increase profits. Digital presses are ideal for this, offering an affordable and convenient way to print short or long runs from digital based files onto a wide range of media stock with image quality akin to that of offset. No longer do offset prints need to be outsourced and then brought in-house for overprinting but rather the whole print job can be completed on site….no middleman and no cut to margins.

2. Variable data printing – There have been numerous studies carried out to determine how much a personalised message increases retention of information and ultimately increases sales over non-personalised messaging and marketing materials. Some research has indicated that an individualised message increases sales by up to 20%. Whatever the figure, nobody is disputing the fact that personalisation enhances customer engagement. A digital press allows for each and every printed output to have that personalised name and even individualised content.

Transactional mail such as bills and statements enjoy viewing levels as high as 90% according to some research(i), ideal optics for the addition of marketing messages and a perfect application for inkjet presses. No overprint is required so the previous barriers of cost are removed enabling commercial printers to easily grow their business and increase profits wit highlight colour jobs.

3. Sustainability and eco-friendly printing solutions – End users not only want to reduce their energy costs but also want a printing solution that is eco-friendly. A printing solution that supports their efforts to reach net carbon zero as a business and demonstrates their own green credentials when talking to their own customers.

• According to the BPIF(ii) 53% of companies surveyed reported that they have customers demanding carbon emissions data and sustainability credentials from them – almost all said these demands are intensifying.2
• When it comes carbon emissions data companies need to make efforts to organically reduce their Scope 3 emission which includes electricity consumed in business operations – and this is where inkjet is a strong proposition compared to legacy toner of offset technologies.

4. Inkjet technology – Inkjet digital presses have come a long way over the years. Consistent Image quality, capability to print on different media both uncoated and coated and devices speeds and volumes are no longer limitations of the inkjet press. Add to this the environmental benefits of inkjet heads, ultra-low energy consumption, water based eco-friendly inks and less moving parts that optimise uptimes and maximise productivity and it’s not hard to see why commercial printers are looking to this technology.

5. Footprint – Real estate has always been an issue but today it is even more important. Users are looking to optimise the space they operate in to ensure they can have the correct number of devices to maximise productivity and profitability. The smaller the footprint of a production printer the better, allowing more devices and freeing-up space for more offline finishing options.