New models of continuous-feed and cut-sheet inkjet presses are up to 30% more productive than prior generations.
Marco Boer
Labor shortages, supply chain instability, and automation fueled by private equity are powering production inkjet technology adoption.
What is becoming clearer is that the old ways of doing business are becoming less and less tenable.
Production inkjet has proven itself to be a path forward for PSPs, especially within transaction, direct mail and book industries.
Regardless of breakthroughs in output quality, inks and pre-coat fluids, the fundamental overarching problem of a lack of qualified labor is what will drive commercial printers to embrace production inkjet technology.
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Comments
Entering its 10th year as a printing technology, production inkjet hasn’t replaced all the volume from offset or digital toner printing technology. It has, however, become an indispensible tool in the arsenal of any print services provider and many in-plants. Some continuous-feed inkjet printers are on par with offset productivity. Others are reaching output quality levels nearing digital color press output. And new cut-sheet production inkjet printers are putting inkjet technology within acquisition cost reach for the first time.
These are good days for the production inkjet printing business, for both users of the technology, as well as its related equipment and supplies manufacturers. Everyone is growing, everyone seems to be making money and promises of technology advancement are being delivered upon.
The transition of pages from analog to digital production printing is happening at a rate slower than most digital printing manufacturers might have anticipated. Page volumes will not tip from analog to digital production print technology in the foreseeable future.
