Can Digital Printing Ignite The Folding Carton Market?

Nowadays, with the transformation of consumer demand to personalization and diversification, digital printing has become a key starting point for brands in the printing and packaging industry to break through with precise customization capabilities, excellent printing quality and efficient production models. From the exquisite presentation of luxury packaging to the personalized marketing of FMCG product packaging, digital printing is deeply integrated into the packaging field, and the potential in the field of folding cartons is limitless.

Development trend

In recent years, the application trend of digital printing in the field of folding cartons has become more and more significant. "As digital printing continues to innovate, more and more retailers, brands, and home goods supply chain partners are favoring folding cartons with beautiful patterns to attract more consumers," a report from Strait Research said. "

One of the main factors driving this trend is the continuous advancements in digital printing. Shahar Lev Ari, Product Marketing Manager for HP Indigo Folding Cartons, said: "Digital printing guarantees excellent print quality and meets the high standards of industries such as luxury, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. "

With the continuous advancement of technology and the improvement of print quality, digital printing solutions have been able to handle printing tasks efficiently, meeting the growing demand for personalization in the market. As Matt Brooks, Director of Digital Printing Solutions Packaging at AGFA, explains, "As technology advances, many high-speed digital printing solutions have been created, significantly increasing the penetration and market share of digital printing. Digital printing can handle both high-volume orders and short-run printing tasks, catering to the diverse needs of the market. Today, digitally printed products are almost comparable in print quality to offset printing and are significantly more cost-effective. "

Additionally, logistics optimization is driving the widespread adoption of digital printing. Amir Shalev, Director of Market Development at Landa, noted: "We have observed a growing trend towards on-demand production and inventory reduction to better meet market demand. Businesses want to achieve more flexible production through digital printing to respond quickly to market changes. "Modern supply chains emphasize flexibility, and on-time production and on-demand printing have become mainstream, and digital printing can meet this demand, helping businesses minimize inventory and reduce lead times for efficient production and delivery." "

As multi-stock unit products and short print cycles become the norm, consumer demand for personalized packaging is growing. Shahar Lev Ari, Product Marketing Manager for Hewlett-Packard Indigo Folding Cartons, explains, "Digital printing offers packaging companies the possibility to customize packaging for specific audiences, resulting in more engaging and memorable products. He further pointed out that the more attractive and personalized design brought by digital printing can effectively increase customer loyalty. For example, through QR codes, promotional activities, brand stories, etc., it is possible to better establish interaction with consumers.

Sustainability is also an important factor driving the development of digital printing. Shahar Lev Ari, Product Marketing Manager at HP Indigo Folding Cartons, emphasized: "Consumers are increasingly concerned about eco-friendly packaging and sustainability. Matt Brooks, Director of Packaging at AGFA Digital Printing Solutions, also said: "As society's focus on sustainability continues to increase, people are beginning to think more about the circular economy, which is driving digital printing in a more environmentally friendly direction. For example, use thinner and lighter paper materials to make them more suitable for digital printing processes. "

In the face of increasingly severe environmental problems, companies are paying more and more attention to sustainable development. Shahar Lev Ari, Product Marketing Manager for HP Indigo Folding Cartons, said: "Compared to traditional printing, digital printing produces less waste, is more environmentally friendly, and can effectively reduce the carbon footprint. By minimizing waste and inventory, businesses can achieve on-demand production and avoid creating excessive redundant products. "

At the same time, Amir Shalev, Director of Market Development at Landa, also emphasized the importance of recyclable cardboard in packaging materials. "Recyclable cardboard, including a variety of recyclable types, is gradually replacing traditional plastic packaging as the preferred choice for the consumer goods and FMCG markets," he noted. This trend is not only welcomed by many brands, but also more in line with consumers' environmental awareness. "In addition, increasingly stringent regulatory policies are driving print and packaging companies to adopt sustainable packaging.

Challenges of digital printing in the realm of folding cartons

Despite the promising prospects of digital printing production of folding cartons, there are still some challenges.

Firstly, the development of digital printing in the field of folding cartons faces challenges in terms of time-to-market, cost, and automation. Matt Brooks, Director of Digital Printing Solutions at Agfa, said: "Although digital printing technology has continued to evolve in recent years, market adoption is still relatively slow. Compared with traditional printing, digital printing faces certain pain points in terms of price and operating costs, especially ink costs need to be factored into ROI considerations. Secondly, problems such as continuous material supply and job change are also urgent challenges that digital printing must solve. Traditional printing has accumulated a wealth of experience in these areas, and digital printing is expected to catch up in automation in the future through cooperation with third-party equipment manufacturers. "

The folding carton processing industry is becoming increasingly competitive. Amir Shalev, Director of Market Development at Landa, pointed out: "In the current context of macroeconomic uncertainty, companies are facing pressure from rising costs on the one hand, and on the other hand, they have to raise product prices. To stand out in the market, packaging companies must provide a higher level of service, such as ensuring supply chain stability and shortening lead times. "

Shahar Lev Ari, Product Marketing Manager of HP Indigo Folding Cartons, said: "The transition from traditional printing to digital printing requires a comprehensive adjustment by printing and packaging companies, and resources need to be invested in training and research and development to ensure that new technologies can be seamlessly integrated into existing production processes. "

With the growing demand for instant production and environmentally friendly solutions, folding carton digital printing technology will have broader development prospects, and this technology is attracting more and more packaging companies to adopt.