05.21.15
The sheetfed printing industry is essentially a tale of two very different businesses. On the one hand, folding carton packaging is a growing market. Meanwhile, the publication and commercial sheetfed side, once the dominant segment, has stabilized somewhat after a few years of declining sales. Sheetfed ink manufacturers confirm these trends.
Daryl Collins, VP sales and regional operations for Wikoff Color, reported that the packaging segment of sheetfed printing continues to grow.
“This can be seen from the capital investments being made by folding carton and offset label printers,” Collins added. “The commercial segment of sheetfed printing has stabilized, resulting from companies diversifying their product offering and though acquisition.”
“The commercial sheetfed market continues to struggle as companies cut back on their marketing collateral and other printing needs,” Dennis Sweet, VP of product management for sheetfed inks, North American Ink, Sun Chemical, noted. “Despite the slowly improving economy, print buyers in 2014 were still cautious with their discretionary spending on such items as advertising displays and collateral materials. In 2015, we expect continued growth in the folding carton sheetfed market, and the commercial sheetfed market to remain flat.”
Charlie Sagert, VP director of sales, for INX International Ink Co., said that INX has found that the sheetfed market has stabilized over the past few years.
“The term ‘sheetfed,’ however, has been redefined in a sense,” Sagert added. “Many pressrooms now feature tradition litho ‘sheetfed’ presses side-by-side with digital ‘sheetfed’ printers, with both contributing to the ‘sheetfed’ marketplace.”
John Copeland, president and COO of Toyo Ink America, also said that the overall sheetfed market is becoming more stable.
“The commercial sheetfed market has been both resilient and at the same time has suffered,” Copeland reported. “New UV and LED technologies have helped increase interest in printed material. There is a lot appeal to these new printed pieces. After a few years in decline, the market seems to have leveled out.”
Jim Leitch, Braden Sutphin Ink’s (BSI) CEO, said that the rise of digital printing has taken a toll on conventional sheetfed printing.
“The sheetfed printing industry overall continues to be challenged by a change to digital technology and the shorter run lengths on jobs,” Leitch observed.
The packaging market is growing, and this is leading to new technologies.
“Packaging has become a stronger market for us, primarily UV packaging,” said James La Rocca, Superior Printing Ink’s COO, adding that UV LE is the newest technology Superior is offering to sheetfed printers.
“Sheetfed packaging is a stronger market for BSI and for our overall industry, and I think the packaging market is sustainable for the next couple of years,” Leitch said.
“As packaging demands become more and more diverse, the sheetfed packaging market strengthens,” Sagert reported. “Sheetfed run lengths, print quality and capabilities all fit the diverse demands of today’s packaging market. The entry of LED technology to the energy curable market place is really a game changer. Low odor, lower temperatures, lower energy costs … what else needs to be said?”
“Toyo Ink America has always been a strong supplier for quality and value added commercial printers,” Copeland said. “This has been true over the years for offset sheetfed packaging as well.”
“Wikoff maintains a strong position in the sheetfed packaging market in North American and continues to grow our market share abroad,” Collins said. “Our core principles, to be customer focused and technically driven, are well received in the marketplace.”
“Since there is regular consumer demand for food packaging, the folding carton sheetfed packaging market continues to fare better than the commercial market with moderate growth,” Sweet said.
New products are essential to help sheetfed printers better compete in the changing marketplace.
Sweet said that technical service is also a differentiator for customers, adding that the most significant recent development for Sun Chemical is its Virtual Inplant technology. “This unique technology allows sheetfed printers to ‘digitize’ their fountain solution, prevent conductivity spikes, and results in improved quality and reduced paper waste,” Sweet added.
Sweet also reported that Sun Chemical introduced SunLit Triumph Max commercial sheetfed inks for high speed printing. He said that these inks offer high abrasion resistance on a wide variety of stocks and come to color fast, reduce start-up waste and provide press stability. The new inks use renewable resources and bio-based materials, and contain less than 2 % in volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Leitch said that Braden Sutphin continue to develop new products such as the new Synthetic Stock series, and has continued to evolve its technologies to provide inks that stay open on press but are drying better and better. “Lastly, we are providing more technical help to customers with ink and coating combinations to ensure the best printed job possible,” Leitch added.
Collins reported that Wikoff continues its development of new inks systems, particularly products to work with the proliferation of substrates in the sheetfed market, as well as formulate innovative coatings to address the needs and drive innovation for its customer base.
Copeland said that Toyo Ink’s new generation of UV and LED products are developed for sheetfed printers, and allows them to print special effects.
All in all, the sheetfed field remains a mixed bag, with ink executives forecasting opportunities in packaging.
“Indicators suggest the outlook for modest growth is good,” La Rocca said.
Collins anticipates continuous change in the sheetfed market.
“The aforementioned topics of consolidation and digital innovation will lead to change in addition to developing regulatory requirements,” Collins said. “Our outlook is reasonably optimistic as traditional printing presses become wider, faster and more evolved to compete with growing presence of digital equipment.”
“We look forward to stable, consistent, and continued growth in the market,” Sagert said. “The once rigid lines between sheetfed litho and digital will continue to blur. This diversity will help all printers find growth and financial strength in new markets.”
“We see some strong sheetfed printing at this time,” Copeland said. “It is difficult to say if this is lasting or whether or not it will pick up even more. We believe more conventional sheetfed printing will give way to energy curable printing with UV and LED.”
“I’m encouraged that the sheetfed market has had more stability over the past two to three years,” Leitch concluded. “Has it grown? Yes, on a limited bases within certain segments and in certain geographic area, but more important is that the amount of work is better balanced with the number of printers.”
Daryl Collins, VP sales and regional operations for Wikoff Color, reported that the packaging segment of sheetfed printing continues to grow.
“This can be seen from the capital investments being made by folding carton and offset label printers,” Collins added. “The commercial segment of sheetfed printing has stabilized, resulting from companies diversifying their product offering and though acquisition.”
“The commercial sheetfed market continues to struggle as companies cut back on their marketing collateral and other printing needs,” Dennis Sweet, VP of product management for sheetfed inks, North American Ink, Sun Chemical, noted. “Despite the slowly improving economy, print buyers in 2014 were still cautious with their discretionary spending on such items as advertising displays and collateral materials. In 2015, we expect continued growth in the folding carton sheetfed market, and the commercial sheetfed market to remain flat.”
Charlie Sagert, VP director of sales, for INX International Ink Co., said that INX has found that the sheetfed market has stabilized over the past few years.
“The term ‘sheetfed,’ however, has been redefined in a sense,” Sagert added. “Many pressrooms now feature tradition litho ‘sheetfed’ presses side-by-side with digital ‘sheetfed’ printers, with both contributing to the ‘sheetfed’ marketplace.”
John Copeland, president and COO of Toyo Ink America, also said that the overall sheetfed market is becoming more stable.
“The commercial sheetfed market has been both resilient and at the same time has suffered,” Copeland reported. “New UV and LED technologies have helped increase interest in printed material. There is a lot appeal to these new printed pieces. After a few years in decline, the market seems to have leveled out.”
Jim Leitch, Braden Sutphin Ink’s (BSI) CEO, said that the rise of digital printing has taken a toll on conventional sheetfed printing.
“The sheetfed printing industry overall continues to be challenged by a change to digital technology and the shorter run lengths on jobs,” Leitch observed.
The packaging market is growing, and this is leading to new technologies.
“Packaging has become a stronger market for us, primarily UV packaging,” said James La Rocca, Superior Printing Ink’s COO, adding that UV LE is the newest technology Superior is offering to sheetfed printers.
“Sheetfed packaging is a stronger market for BSI and for our overall industry, and I think the packaging market is sustainable for the next couple of years,” Leitch said.
“As packaging demands become more and more diverse, the sheetfed packaging market strengthens,” Sagert reported. “Sheetfed run lengths, print quality and capabilities all fit the diverse demands of today’s packaging market. The entry of LED technology to the energy curable market place is really a game changer. Low odor, lower temperatures, lower energy costs … what else needs to be said?”
“Toyo Ink America has always been a strong supplier for quality and value added commercial printers,” Copeland said. “This has been true over the years for offset sheetfed packaging as well.”
“Wikoff maintains a strong position in the sheetfed packaging market in North American and continues to grow our market share abroad,” Collins said. “Our core principles, to be customer focused and technically driven, are well received in the marketplace.”
“Since there is regular consumer demand for food packaging, the folding carton sheetfed packaging market continues to fare better than the commercial market with moderate growth,” Sweet said.
New products are essential to help sheetfed printers better compete in the changing marketplace.
Sweet said that technical service is also a differentiator for customers, adding that the most significant recent development for Sun Chemical is its Virtual Inplant technology. “This unique technology allows sheetfed printers to ‘digitize’ their fountain solution, prevent conductivity spikes, and results in improved quality and reduced paper waste,” Sweet added.
Sweet also reported that Sun Chemical introduced SunLit Triumph Max commercial sheetfed inks for high speed printing. He said that these inks offer high abrasion resistance on a wide variety of stocks and come to color fast, reduce start-up waste and provide press stability. The new inks use renewable resources and bio-based materials, and contain less than 2 % in volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Leitch said that Braden Sutphin continue to develop new products such as the new Synthetic Stock series, and has continued to evolve its technologies to provide inks that stay open on press but are drying better and better. “Lastly, we are providing more technical help to customers with ink and coating combinations to ensure the best printed job possible,” Leitch added.
Collins reported that Wikoff continues its development of new inks systems, particularly products to work with the proliferation of substrates in the sheetfed market, as well as formulate innovative coatings to address the needs and drive innovation for its customer base.
Copeland said that Toyo Ink’s new generation of UV and LED products are developed for sheetfed printers, and allows them to print special effects.
All in all, the sheetfed field remains a mixed bag, with ink executives forecasting opportunities in packaging.
“Indicators suggest the outlook for modest growth is good,” La Rocca said.
Collins anticipates continuous change in the sheetfed market.
“The aforementioned topics of consolidation and digital innovation will lead to change in addition to developing regulatory requirements,” Collins said. “Our outlook is reasonably optimistic as traditional printing presses become wider, faster and more evolved to compete with growing presence of digital equipment.”
“We look forward to stable, consistent, and continued growth in the market,” Sagert said. “The once rigid lines between sheetfed litho and digital will continue to blur. This diversity will help all printers find growth and financial strength in new markets.”
“We see some strong sheetfed printing at this time,” Copeland said. “It is difficult to say if this is lasting or whether or not it will pick up even more. We believe more conventional sheetfed printing will give way to energy curable printing with UV and LED.”
“I’m encouraged that the sheetfed market has had more stability over the past two to three years,” Leitch concluded. “Has it grown? Yes, on a limited bases within certain segments and in certain geographic area, but more important is that the amount of work is better balanced with the number of printers.”