Dave Savastano, Editor05.20.15
Digital printing has become a great opportunity for growth for printers as well as ink manufacturers. Inkjet has already carved out sizable portions of the signage and transactional markets, and is growing in share in label and narrow web and book publishing, to name a few. It comes as no surprise, then, that inkjet ink companies are reporting growth as well.
Stephen Emery, VP, ink and Jetrion industrial press businesses, EFI, said that EFI had a strong 2014, even though the company faced some significant challenges that come from being a U.S.-based company operating on a global basis.
“EFI’s total revenues for 2014 were up 9%, but even that growth came despite the impact of that a stronger U.S. dollar had on our business,” he added. “EFI’s VUTEk, wide format and Jetrion inkjet product lines, and the ink consumables business that supports them, were some of the best-performing parts of the company in 2014.
“With VUTEk, there was particularly strong momentum ink volume for our high-production VUTEk HS100 Pro inkjet press,” Emery added. “Our wide- and superwide-format inkjet products did exceptionally well, because they serve a market has expended well beyond the traditional screen print signage shop customer into print operations of all types. LED inkjet was the fastest-growing ink technology for EFI. In terms of vertical market segments, the label printing market served by our Jetrion business continued to outpace our aggressive expectations.”
Peter Saunders, business director – digital, Sun Chemical, reported that SunJet, the inkjet division of Sun Chemical, grew strongly in the past year, widening its product and technology portfolio to meet the demands of existing and emerging markets.
“We have seen continued growth in wide and super-wide formats in the graphics market,” Saunders noted. “Narrow web and label opportunities have increased as digital press capabilities are being realized. Imprinting and personalized print applications have grown in all geographies and we have seen deployment of systems designed for commercial print and publication markets using aqueous ink technology.
Craig Reid, VP – Digital Division, INX International Ink Co., said that 2014 was another record-breaking year for INX Digital in both growth and the number of technology developments launched.
“Most of the growth came from our increasing number of OEM/private label partners, as well as specialty ink direct customers evolving from analog print methods to digital technologies,” Reid added. “Besides ongoing strong growth in soft (stretchable) signage in general, we are seeing substantial growth in UV curable inks for roll-to-roll applications – in the past mostly the domain of solvent ink. That growth is enabled by new technology UV cure inks that have better adhesion and flexibility than the older formula rigid only inks.”
Dr. Christophe Bulliard, marketing director, Sensient Imaging Technologies SA, said that Sensient enjoyed an excellent year last year.
“We had a very good business in 2014,” Dr. Bulliard noted. “Textile printing, in particular sublimation, which is one of our core businesses, has been a major contributor. We are on the verge of further penetration of digital printing in industrial applications, and the use of polyester fabric in the fashion world.”
Samuel Ponzo, business manager, DuPont Digital Printing, said it has been an exciting year for DuPont Digital Printing.
“We recently introduced our new DuPont Artistri Brite digital textile inks, designed to deliver a step change in color saturation and speed for advanced direct to garment (DTG) printing,” Ponzo said. “DuPont has also introduced new web press inks that are taking off, and with the commercial segment moving increasingly to digital printing, exhibiting strong year over year growth, these new product introductions are propelling growth in DuPont Digital Inks as well. Additionally, DuPont supplies inks to major office OEMs and has seen good growth in this segment through both technology advancements and supply chain improvements.”
Jeffrey Nelson, business development manager, Inkjet Solutions, FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Graphic Systems Division, said that FUJIFILM saw impressive growth again this year.
“It was another solid performance,” Nelson added, “UV wide format inkjet ink enjoyed impressive year over year growth.”
Daryl Collins, VP sales and regional operations for Wikoff Color, said that 2014 was another growth year for the company’s inkjet business unit.
“We continued to develop new products for specific customer specific applications,” Collins added. “The uniqueness and number of projects has been pretty amazing. The number of companies in many different industries that are looking for inkjet to solve a problem or give them a new capability is remarkable.
“Inkjet is evolving in so many markets that the traditional inkjet graphic arts segment remains a bit flat,” Collins added. “Our growth is coming from the industrial market, which encompasses a wide variety of different markets.”
Ruth Zach, marketing coordinator, Bordeaux Digital Printink Ltd., said that Bordeaux witnessed another year of firm demand for all types of inks.
“However, there were changes in the distribution patterns resulting from the shifting economic situation,” Zach added. “The economic recession in Europe and Russia and the recovery of the North American economy affected 2014. In terms of demand, the main growth for Bordeaux was among the quality driven market in which, in addition to savings, the quality and adaptability of the ink to the printers plays a major role.”
Kristin Adams, marketing manager, Collins Inkjet, said that business was excellent in 2014. “We’re seeing steady growth anchored by continued increasing core product sales,” Adams added. “Highest percentage growth areas include UV inks and polymeric water-based inks for non-porous, industrial print applications (mostly single pass).”
New Market Opportunities
Digital printing has already made significant inroads in a wide range of printing segments – signage, labels and transactional printing, for example – with more room to grow. Inkjet ink executives see more opportunities ahead for digital technologies to displace incumbent technologies.
“The absolute best part about the inkjet industry is that absolutely no market segment is yet tapped out for potential,” Reid said. “Segments like graphics and signage, while already mature in use of inkjet, is still migrating to new odor-free eco solvents, new water-based textile inks and next generation energy cure ink technologies. Industrial segments are exploding into the use of inkjet for all kinds of decoration, customization and coatings. Other than digitally printed labels that are fast moving to digital printing, we have yet to even break the surface of the opportunities in all the sub-segments of packaging.”
Dr. Bulliard said that Sensient continues to believe that a part of industrial printing will move to digital in the next few years. “Sensient has announced solutions for high pressure laminates and large installations have started,” Dr. Bulliard added. “We are also foreseeing other applications within the deco industry and working on exciting new products.”
“In commercial printing, the range of applications and substrates is expanding rapidly,” Ponzo added. “There is growth in industrial, books and publishing as well as the established statement and transactional market. In the office market, we have been able to optimize our technology and make significant inroads against laser printing due to advancements in optical density and durability.
“For example, there are good opportunities for digital technologies to displace incumbent technologies in black monochrome printing, where customers are printing onto a wide variety of media and looking for efficient solutions,” Ponzo added. “This has become increasingly popular over the last year. Book printing also offers great potential for growth in digital, with self-publishing on the rise there has been a blog-to-book explosion. For print on demand and short runs, inkjet offers more flexibility in cost.”
Zach reported that textile digital printing is gaining popularity with direct-to-garment and transfer dye sublimation, and added that Bordeaux has noticed a high demand for printer specific solutions.
“End users are eager for solutions which are plug & play and do not require going inside the printer,” Zach said. “Since each printer has its proprietary features, it is mandatory to provide a solution which is fully compatible with the specific printers and does not require technician time to install or operate.”
“The inkjet world is buzzing with an amazing amount of interest in new and unique, niche-type opportunities,” Adams said. “We have had a lot of interest in custom inks for textile and corrugated box printing. Aggressive cost structures are becoming proven and suppliers are beginning to realize what Collins has been saying all along. Low consumables costs promote growth and easier adaptation. When customers look at competitive pricing for more flexible and efficient technologies, it makes it easier for them to entertain the thought and they become willing to take more risk. The opportunities are endless as long as the technology providers understand what it is going to take to enter some of these otherwise mature production spaces.”
“Businesses are discovering that when you can print at a speed that approaches flexo, with a more-efficient process where you don’t have to create plates and dies, the case for digital replacement becomes stronger than it has even been before,” Emery said.
“There are also a number of analog screen and even hand-painting industrial applications related to the creation of formed parts and signage that digital inkjet can replace with thermoformable inks,” Emery added. “We expect a greater proliferation of that. Ceramic decoration is another area where the analog to digital transformation is happening. EFI purchased the leading ceramic tile inkjet print technology, CretaPrint, in 2012, and we have now developed our first fully integrated product line for that market with a new printer, a Fiery digital front end and new inks to make the process even better.”
“Digital printing technologies have displaced a number of incumbent technologies and the next phase for inkjet growth will be based on complementing traditional printing technologies,” Collins said. “The label market is a good example of how digital will impact printing markets. Digital has brought new capabilities to the label market complimenting traditional print’s growth. One segment that we forecast growth in over the long term is for more packaging equipment manufacturers to be replacing their label applications machinery with in line inkjet printers.”
Stephen Emery, VP, ink and Jetrion industrial press businesses, EFI, said that EFI had a strong 2014, even though the company faced some significant challenges that come from being a U.S.-based company operating on a global basis.
“EFI’s total revenues for 2014 were up 9%, but even that growth came despite the impact of that a stronger U.S. dollar had on our business,” he added. “EFI’s VUTEk, wide format and Jetrion inkjet product lines, and the ink consumables business that supports them, were some of the best-performing parts of the company in 2014.
“With VUTEk, there was particularly strong momentum ink volume for our high-production VUTEk HS100 Pro inkjet press,” Emery added. “Our wide- and superwide-format inkjet products did exceptionally well, because they serve a market has expended well beyond the traditional screen print signage shop customer into print operations of all types. LED inkjet was the fastest-growing ink technology for EFI. In terms of vertical market segments, the label printing market served by our Jetrion business continued to outpace our aggressive expectations.”
Peter Saunders, business director – digital, Sun Chemical, reported that SunJet, the inkjet division of Sun Chemical, grew strongly in the past year, widening its product and technology portfolio to meet the demands of existing and emerging markets.
“We have seen continued growth in wide and super-wide formats in the graphics market,” Saunders noted. “Narrow web and label opportunities have increased as digital press capabilities are being realized. Imprinting and personalized print applications have grown in all geographies and we have seen deployment of systems designed for commercial print and publication markets using aqueous ink technology.
Craig Reid, VP – Digital Division, INX International Ink Co., said that 2014 was another record-breaking year for INX Digital in both growth and the number of technology developments launched.
“Most of the growth came from our increasing number of OEM/private label partners, as well as specialty ink direct customers evolving from analog print methods to digital technologies,” Reid added. “Besides ongoing strong growth in soft (stretchable) signage in general, we are seeing substantial growth in UV curable inks for roll-to-roll applications – in the past mostly the domain of solvent ink. That growth is enabled by new technology UV cure inks that have better adhesion and flexibility than the older formula rigid only inks.”
Dr. Christophe Bulliard, marketing director, Sensient Imaging Technologies SA, said that Sensient enjoyed an excellent year last year.
“We had a very good business in 2014,” Dr. Bulliard noted. “Textile printing, in particular sublimation, which is one of our core businesses, has been a major contributor. We are on the verge of further penetration of digital printing in industrial applications, and the use of polyester fabric in the fashion world.”
Samuel Ponzo, business manager, DuPont Digital Printing, said it has been an exciting year for DuPont Digital Printing.
“We recently introduced our new DuPont Artistri Brite digital textile inks, designed to deliver a step change in color saturation and speed for advanced direct to garment (DTG) printing,” Ponzo said. “DuPont has also introduced new web press inks that are taking off, and with the commercial segment moving increasingly to digital printing, exhibiting strong year over year growth, these new product introductions are propelling growth in DuPont Digital Inks as well. Additionally, DuPont supplies inks to major office OEMs and has seen good growth in this segment through both technology advancements and supply chain improvements.”
Jeffrey Nelson, business development manager, Inkjet Solutions, FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Graphic Systems Division, said that FUJIFILM saw impressive growth again this year.
“It was another solid performance,” Nelson added, “UV wide format inkjet ink enjoyed impressive year over year growth.”
Daryl Collins, VP sales and regional operations for Wikoff Color, said that 2014 was another growth year for the company’s inkjet business unit.
“We continued to develop new products for specific customer specific applications,” Collins added. “The uniqueness and number of projects has been pretty amazing. The number of companies in many different industries that are looking for inkjet to solve a problem or give them a new capability is remarkable.
“Inkjet is evolving in so many markets that the traditional inkjet graphic arts segment remains a bit flat,” Collins added. “Our growth is coming from the industrial market, which encompasses a wide variety of different markets.”
Ruth Zach, marketing coordinator, Bordeaux Digital Printink Ltd., said that Bordeaux witnessed another year of firm demand for all types of inks.
“However, there were changes in the distribution patterns resulting from the shifting economic situation,” Zach added. “The economic recession in Europe and Russia and the recovery of the North American economy affected 2014. In terms of demand, the main growth for Bordeaux was among the quality driven market in which, in addition to savings, the quality and adaptability of the ink to the printers plays a major role.”
Kristin Adams, marketing manager, Collins Inkjet, said that business was excellent in 2014. “We’re seeing steady growth anchored by continued increasing core product sales,” Adams added. “Highest percentage growth areas include UV inks and polymeric water-based inks for non-porous, industrial print applications (mostly single pass).”
New Market Opportunities
Digital printing has already made significant inroads in a wide range of printing segments – signage, labels and transactional printing, for example – with more room to grow. Inkjet ink executives see more opportunities ahead for digital technologies to displace incumbent technologies.
“The absolute best part about the inkjet industry is that absolutely no market segment is yet tapped out for potential,” Reid said. “Segments like graphics and signage, while already mature in use of inkjet, is still migrating to new odor-free eco solvents, new water-based textile inks and next generation energy cure ink technologies. Industrial segments are exploding into the use of inkjet for all kinds of decoration, customization and coatings. Other than digitally printed labels that are fast moving to digital printing, we have yet to even break the surface of the opportunities in all the sub-segments of packaging.”
Dr. Bulliard said that Sensient continues to believe that a part of industrial printing will move to digital in the next few years. “Sensient has announced solutions for high pressure laminates and large installations have started,” Dr. Bulliard added. “We are also foreseeing other applications within the deco industry and working on exciting new products.”
“In commercial printing, the range of applications and substrates is expanding rapidly,” Ponzo added. “There is growth in industrial, books and publishing as well as the established statement and transactional market. In the office market, we have been able to optimize our technology and make significant inroads against laser printing due to advancements in optical density and durability.
“For example, there are good opportunities for digital technologies to displace incumbent technologies in black monochrome printing, where customers are printing onto a wide variety of media and looking for efficient solutions,” Ponzo added. “This has become increasingly popular over the last year. Book printing also offers great potential for growth in digital, with self-publishing on the rise there has been a blog-to-book explosion. For print on demand and short runs, inkjet offers more flexibility in cost.”
Zach reported that textile digital printing is gaining popularity with direct-to-garment and transfer dye sublimation, and added that Bordeaux has noticed a high demand for printer specific solutions.
“End users are eager for solutions which are plug & play and do not require going inside the printer,” Zach said. “Since each printer has its proprietary features, it is mandatory to provide a solution which is fully compatible with the specific printers and does not require technician time to install or operate.”
“The inkjet world is buzzing with an amazing amount of interest in new and unique, niche-type opportunities,” Adams said. “We have had a lot of interest in custom inks for textile and corrugated box printing. Aggressive cost structures are becoming proven and suppliers are beginning to realize what Collins has been saying all along. Low consumables costs promote growth and easier adaptation. When customers look at competitive pricing for more flexible and efficient technologies, it makes it easier for them to entertain the thought and they become willing to take more risk. The opportunities are endless as long as the technology providers understand what it is going to take to enter some of these otherwise mature production spaces.”
“Businesses are discovering that when you can print at a speed that approaches flexo, with a more-efficient process where you don’t have to create plates and dies, the case for digital replacement becomes stronger than it has even been before,” Emery said.
“There are also a number of analog screen and even hand-painting industrial applications related to the creation of formed parts and signage that digital inkjet can replace with thermoformable inks,” Emery added. “We expect a greater proliferation of that. Ceramic decoration is another area where the analog to digital transformation is happening. EFI purchased the leading ceramic tile inkjet print technology, CretaPrint, in 2012, and we have now developed our first fully integrated product line for that market with a new printer, a Fiery digital front end and new inks to make the process even better.”
“Digital printing technologies have displaced a number of incumbent technologies and the next phase for inkjet growth will be based on complementing traditional printing technologies,” Collins said. “The label market is a good example of how digital will impact printing markets. Digital has brought new capabilities to the label market complimenting traditional print’s growth. One segment that we forecast growth in over the long term is for more packaging equipment manufacturers to be replacing their label applications machinery with in line inkjet printers.”