PUBLICATION CENTER

In a report entitled The Future of Digital Printing for Packaging, experts from Pira International estimate the global market for digitally printed packaging will grow from $2.4 billion in 2009 to $6.8 billion in 2014. Currently, most of the digital-printing activity in this field is for labels (56%), tags (15.4%), corrugated (13.2%), folding cartons (7.8%), flexible plastic packaging (4.9%), and flexible paper packaging (1.7%).

The report states that: “A major driver for digital printing in the packaging and label segments is the need for customization and shorter press runs in order to limit the amount of dormant inventory. Digital, on-demand printing of labels and packages has now become critical in the context of the current economic downturn and waste-reduction initiatives, since lesser material, energy, and inks are used.”

Another advantage pointed out in the report is that digital printing allows package converters to become ‘print-service providers’ and offer a wider range of digital services along with their traditional package printing operations. For details, see www.pira-international.com/businessintelligence