What Is The Next Important Market For Digital Printing? International Giants Believe It Is

In recent years, digital printing has developed into a key technology in the packaging field, with its application now widely expanding across various sectors. Today, digital printing labels are extremely popular, and the use of inkjet printing technology in the corrugated packaging market continues to grow. Executives in the ink industry foresee further development in these niche markets, with new application prospects emerging in areas such as flexible packaging.

Christine Russell, Vice President of Business at Fujifilm Ink Solutions Group USA, pointed out that the application of inkjet printing in the insurance sector is expanding in multiple dimensions. Label printing has reached scale and continues to grow, corrugated packaging printing is beginning to develop steadily, folding carton printing has strong momentum, while flexible packaging printing is still in the early stages of development.Andrew King, Senior Product Manager for On-Demand Label Solutions at Epson Latin America, noted that the packaging inkjet printing sector is showing a growth trend, especially in markets where on-demand customization is possible. He illustrated with examples from food processing and fresh food packaging: color application can be used for dish identification, marking dietary allergens, or conveying expiration date information.Paul Edwards, Vice President of the Digital Division at INX International Ink Company, stated that the entire packaging sector generally shows increasing interest, with multiple submarkets achieving measurable growth. Simon Daplyn, Product and Marketing Manager at Sun Chemical, highlighted that digital printing is exhibiting significant growth in the packaging industry, with clear evidence in corrugated packaging, carton board, and label markets.Haim Levit, Senior Vice President and President of HP Industrial Printing, pointed out that digital printing in the packaging sector is showing significant growth. For instance, in the flexible packaging segment, HP achieved more than 20% growth in 2024 alone, driven by an increase in demand for short-run printing, high customization, and rapid time-to-market. The corrugated packaging segment also shows remarkable growth, with ink usage increasing by over 30% in 2024.So, what exactly is the "new blue ocean" that industry giants are betting on?Industry leaders believe that inkjet printing technology will encounter new opportunities, with the flexible packaging sector serving as a breakthrough point.Simon Daplyn from Sun Chemical added that with the growing adoption of fiber-based packaging, coupled with changes in other packaging materials and compliance requirements, digital printing is poised for a market breakthrough that fulfills widespread expectations.Danny Mertens, Marketing Manager of Digital Business at Flint Group, stated that flexible packaging is the next major opportunity. "With advancements in food safety, durability, and recyclability of inkjet inks, digital printing technology can finally meet the needs of processors in this sector.""The next major opportunity lies in flexible packaging and folding cartons. Although current digital penetration is low, demand is growing rapidly," Levit pointed out. "Brands have recognized the value of digital label printing and are seeking similar benefits in other packaging forms."The greatest opportunity in digital packaging printing lies in sustainability and the exploration of new media and substrates. "Brands are under pressure to reduce waste, and digital printing supports on-demand production, eliminating multiple printing steps and avoiding the hoarding of pre-printed colored label rolls. The intersection of sustainability, personalization, and flexibility is the golden zone for growth," King noted.Edwards highlighted that there are currently multiple promising areas, with technological developments aligning with the evolving needs of brand customers. "Flexible packaging is undoubtedly a significant market opportunity, though its transformation may be slower than other application areas. However, adopting hybrid systems that combine traditional and digital printing is expected to drive higher print volumes." ...

The Development Prospects of Packaging Digital PrintingIt is not difficult to understand that leaders in the ink industry are optimistic about the development prospects of digital printing in the packaging field.Duplin stated that the prospects for digital printing are extremely optimistic. "At the 2024 Drupa Printing Exhibition, numerous digital packaging printers designed for high-speed production were showcased. As packaging processors and brand owners gradually deploy these devices, the output of digitally printed packaging will increase accordingly." He added, "Although currently only 1% to 2% of packaging uses digital printing, as technological advancements continue to reduce print volumes, the output of digital printed packaging is growing and beginning to replace traditional printing processes in short-run printing tasks."Levitt said that the prospects for packaging digital printing are extremely optimistic. "HP expects this sector to maintain strong growth, especially as brand owners and processors reach consensus on key drivers such as sustainability, supply chain flexibility, and SKU diversification."Russell pointed out that the trend of product branding will persist, which will affect production batch sizes and further promote the applicability of digital printing. Efforts in the e-commerce sector to enhance unboxing experiences and the appeal of shipping packaging will create more opportunities for digital printing of folding cartons and corrugated packaging.Jin stated that with growing demand for customized content, companies are competing to create eye-catching product labels and packaging. He believes the digital packaging market will continue to expand. Companies that effectively leverage digital printing technology will be able to accurately grasp market trends and offer customized, technologically advanced packaging solutions that meet contemporary consumer demands.Edwards concluded: "Different application areas are at different stages of development, with label applications being the most mature and flexible packaging just beginning. I expect customers, brand owners, and hardware and consumables suppliers to show strong interest in this digital printing packaging sector, with significant growth likely in the short to medium term."