Dr Sean Smyth, a Senior Analyst and Consultant at Smithers, says there are a high number of players now competing in the wide range of packaging applications, offering new capabilities and functionalities with steadily increasing productivity and lower costs.
He added that printhead and equipment manufacturers have developed many solutions that eliminate inkjet artefacts, compensating for nozzle outs in real time that extend the life of the heads and machine uptime.
According to Smyth, inkjet will be the real winner, with faster machines, particularly in flexible packaging. While digital presses are the new, shiny and sexy headline grabbers, more important is the enabling software, because the only way of making money from a digital press is to print saleable output and a powerful workflow is vital to prepare the artwork files and keep the print queue well stocked.
‘Some vendors have single pass, highly automated systems to print and finish corrugated boxes, cartons and flexibles in a single pass. This is commonplace in labels. For other packaging, the enabler is combining digital print with digital finishing, adding automated control systems to drive the press, measure and check the print then track through finishing which may be coating, laminating, cutting, creasing, folding and gluing, together with a wide variety of embellishments. The digital front end controller is becoming increasingly powerful to drive the digital print section, to measure and control quality and then to set and drive the finishing technology. This approach replaces the traditional skills of the press minder and finishing journeymen operators, which is important because skilled labour is a resource that is increasingly difficult to recruit and retain,’ said Smyth.
Visitors can see solutions to tap into packaging printing trends at the Graphics, Print and Sign Expo, taking place from 14-16 September at the Gallagher Convention Centre.
Africa Print is a proud media partner of this event, which will take place 9am to 5pm daily. Entrance is free. To register, and for more information, click here. The event is sponsored by Roland and Stixo Signage Supplies.
Follow Graphics, Print and Sign on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram for the latest updates.
GRAPHICS, PRINT & SIGN
Organised by Practical Publishing
+27 11 568 1894
gps@practicalpublishing.co.za
www.graphicsprintsign.com
