David Savastano, Editor11.20.17
The printing and printing ink industries have evolved over the years. Letterpress gave way to offset, flexo has become the leading technology in packaging, and digital printing has made major inroads. It is interesting to reflect on the past and take guesses at what is next.
For the 2017 Year in Review, I asked printing ink executives what they consider as the most critical changes during the past decade, and what they expect the next 10 years may bring. The answers are insightful.
Not surprisingly, the most common responses to how the industry has changed focused on the rapid expansion of digital printing and the decline of the publication and commercial printing market. Ten years ago, the Great Recession had yet to hit, and publication printing was still doing well. The economic decline, combined with the growth of the Internet, devastated the publication segment. The growth of flexible packaging at the expense of folding carton is noteworthy. Meanwhile, digital printing grew from the wide format and direct mail arenas to become a leading technology in the label and narrow web space, with packaging clearly the next frontier.
What do ink industry leaders anticipate for the next 10 years? Further growth in digital printing is number one on their minds. The same trends that led to the growth of digital printing – personalization, customization, regionalization and just-in-time delivery/inventory control – can be applied to packaging. The success of the Coca-Cola campaign that featured people’s names on bottles caught the eyes of brand owners.
More consolidation throughout the supply chain is a common theme, and one other area of note is the continued interest in sustainable materials that are safe for packaging. Low migration ink systems are of great interest to consumers and brand owners alike, and ink companies expect that this will continue to be the case.
To read more about predictions for the ink and printing industries, please see “The 2017 Year in Review”. I also welcome feedback from our readers as to what you think the future holds.
David Savastano
Ink Wiorld Editor
dsavastano@rodmanmedia.com
For the 2017 Year in Review, I asked printing ink executives what they consider as the most critical changes during the past decade, and what they expect the next 10 years may bring. The answers are insightful.
Not surprisingly, the most common responses to how the industry has changed focused on the rapid expansion of digital printing and the decline of the publication and commercial printing market. Ten years ago, the Great Recession had yet to hit, and publication printing was still doing well. The economic decline, combined with the growth of the Internet, devastated the publication segment. The growth of flexible packaging at the expense of folding carton is noteworthy. Meanwhile, digital printing grew from the wide format and direct mail arenas to become a leading technology in the label and narrow web space, with packaging clearly the next frontier.
What do ink industry leaders anticipate for the next 10 years? Further growth in digital printing is number one on their minds. The same trends that led to the growth of digital printing – personalization, customization, regionalization and just-in-time delivery/inventory control – can be applied to packaging. The success of the Coca-Cola campaign that featured people’s names on bottles caught the eyes of brand owners.
More consolidation throughout the supply chain is a common theme, and one other area of note is the continued interest in sustainable materials that are safe for packaging. Low migration ink systems are of great interest to consumers and brand owners alike, and ink companies expect that this will continue to be the case.
To read more about predictions for the ink and printing industries, please see “The 2017 Year in Review”. I also welcome feedback from our readers as to what you think the future holds.
David Savastano
Ink Wiorld Editor
dsavastano@rodmanmedia.com
