Inkjet Printing Market to See Double-Digit Growth, Pira Says
LEATHERHEAD, UK—Nov. 10, 2010—Globally the inkjet market is growing strongly as increasing numbers of print suppliers and label converters move into the market. In the period to 2015, a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 10.3 percent by value and 10.9 percent by print volume is expected according to a major new study from Pira International
Based on primary research and expert analysis, “The Future of Inkjet printing to 2015” takes an in-depth look at the global markets and developing technologies for industrial and commercial inkjet printing, equipment and ink. The study includes five-year forecasts for global markets, broken down by region, supplier market and end-use sector, with exclusive assessment of current and emerging trends and technologies. It also includes profiles of leading inkjet suppliers.
According to Pira, the inkjet process is making inroads into the sizeable markets for graphics, labels, packaging and signage, where it is expected to be the major commercial printing process in the next 15–25 years. Adam Page, Head of Editorial at Pira explains: “The process is so flexible that there are many discrete sectors. In each one: narrow web, wide web, wide and grand-format, high speed flatbed, sheetfed and miscellaneous integrations, we are seeing faster, higher quality and critically more reliable machines. These provide significant benefits to commercial and industrial users who are taking on the technology.”
The total inkjet print market in 2009 was $26.8 billion, 58.2 percent higher than in 2005. Pira expects continuing growth, averaging 10.3 percent CAGR from 2010–15 when it predicts the market will be worth $46.5 billion. That is the equivalent of 352.6 billion A4 prints, up 68.1 percent from 2010.
In value terms, signage (point of sale, posters, exhibition graphics, banners, vehicle livery and building wraps) dominates the market. Signage and display inkjet markets have developed rapidly as screen printers and converters saw their marketplace move toward lower print runs and faster turnaround.
The signage sector is predicted to be worth around $16.3 billion in 2010 and Pira anticipates this will rise to $22.0 billion by 2015 when it will account for 47.2 percent of the total inkjet market, but just 8.3 percent of the area printed by inkjet. Signage print volume is expected to achieve a CAGR of 3.8% from 2010–15, with the value showing an average growth of 6.1 percent over the same period.
Use of inkjet printing will continue to see growth across other end-use sectors (commercial, newspapers, direct mail, transactional and transpromotional, security, packaging and labels).
Page explains: “Over the next five years we will see a general movement of improving productivity and quality in all sectors, making inkjet increasingly competitive against screen, flexo, gravure and offset printing. It will also take share from electrophotography in some markets, such as mono overprinting by making full colour, totally variable output economic at good quality levels.”
Innovation is strong in the industry. There is a growing use of inkjet printed textiles and fabrics and the technology is used as part of an industrial decoration process making flooring, laminate surfaces and decorating glass and ceramics. A relatively new sector is printed electronics, from circuits and RFID to displays and lighting. According to Pira, highly-innovative research areas to watch include inkjet technology as a method of depositing bio-medical material to produce new drug delivery and biological sensors. Researchers are also examining inkjet as a method of seeding artificial tissue engineering. Inkjet is also being used to label and decorate pharmaceutical tablets and decorate confectionery and bakery products.
“The Future of Inkjet Printing to 2015: Global Market Forecasts” is available now. For more information, please contact Stephen Hill at +44 (0) 1372 802025, or via e-mail on stephen.hill@pira-international.com, or see www.pira-international.com
Pira International
Pira International – the worldwide authority on packaging, paper and print industry supply chains. Established in 1930, Pira provides strategic and technical consulting, testing, intelligence and events to help clients gain market insights, identify opportunities, evaluate product performance and manage compliance.
Source: Company press release