NEWS

(12/04/2012 / nho)

InfoTrends Identifies Top Market Drivers in Labels and Packaging

The color digital label and packaging (CDLP) market will grow strongly between 2011 and 2016, with a 18% compound annual growth rate in digital press revenues according to InfoTrends, a specialist consulting firm.

This market will have dynamic additions in terms of technology and competitors. The most important technology additions will be high-end color electrophotographic (EP) and inkjet presses, ones that will steer color digital printing much more into the printing of folding cartons and flexible packaging, deep applications that are minimally penetrated by even the most capable current color digital presses.

“There are two megatrends among brand owners that support the growth of the color digital press market in label and packaging uses," says Bob Leahey, Associate Director of InfoTrends’ Color Digital Label and Packaging Service. “One is the brand owners’ focus on target marketing, and the other is their  focus on lean manufacturing.” He adds that, together, these influences have caused brand owners to order packaging and labels more frequently and in smaller amounts and will continue to do so. For converters of labels and packaging, this situation will result in increasing numbers of short run print jobs, which color digital presses such as HP Indigo, Xeikon, and  Efi Jetrion can print more efficiently than conventional presses.

Another key theme of the current forecast is that the market will soon change with the arrival of a new generation of color digital label and packaging (CDLP) presses, most of which were introduced at the Drupa 2012 show in Germany. These new presses will be high capacity models – most with web or throat width at least 26”, which is over twice the width of most current CDLP presses. That difference in width and overall productivity will drive the use of CDLP presses to new levels in folding cartons and flexible packaging, two important applications where current models have only a limited role today. Both EP and inkjet technologies will contribute to this new generation of high-end CDLP presses in a receptive, growing market.

InfoTrends’ CDLP Press Market Forecast: 2011-2016 estimates and forecasts the regional and world market for CDLP presses based on EP and single pass inkjet print technology for the years 2011 through 2016. The forecast is cut by EP and inkjet mid-range and high-end categories for placements, installed base, total press sales value, consumables value, and value of print. It estimates the consumption and value of print in terms of label, folding carton, and flexible packaging applications.

This report is available immediately.