11.27.13
The conventional printing ink industry is going through changes. These changes are clear. The packaging market continues to grow worldwide, and inkjet is expanding into new areas. Meanwhile, the publication and commercial printing markets have declined, as people get their information from other sources.
There are plenty of signs of these changes. For example, in our annual International Top Ink Companies report, ink industry executives talked about their gains in packaging and inkjet, and their concern that the publication and commercial markets are not likely to recover to their past levels.
In my article on the Asia-Pacific ink market, executives pointed to the packaging ink market as the strongest area of opportunity. On the inkjet side, Sean Milmo, our European editor, attended FESPA 2013 in London, and saw the gains being made on the digital side, notably in wide format printing.
The expansion of these markets is not being lost on industry suppliers. In my Vehicles and Varnishes feature, manufacturers noted that they are putting an emphasis on developing new products for packaging and inkjet. In the feature on metallics, metallic pigment and ink suppliers note the impact their products have on the supermarket shelf.
For ink manufacturers and their suppliers worldwide, there are opportunities in fields such as packaging and inkjet. The goal is to develop the innovative products and services that will drive growth in the coming years.
David Savastano
Ink World Editor
dsavastano@rodmanmedia.com