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InfoTrends to Conduct In-Depth Study on Color Digital Print in the Packaging and Prime Label Industry

(Weymouth, MA) June 01, 2009. . .The $450 billion global packaging industry presents a growing opportunity for vendors of digital print technology and supplies.  InfoTrends will address this opportunity this year with a dedicated, in-depth market study. “Full color digital print now accounts for nearly $1 billion in print service revenues to label and package converters worldwide, and that total is growing,” commented Tim Greene, a Director at InfoTrends.

“Digital printing first penetrated the office market back in the 1970's and 80's and then migrated into the commercial printing industry in the 1990's," noted Jeff Hayes, President, InfoTrends. "We are now entering a third phase where digital printing is expanding into the label and packaging industry. InfoTrends is increasing our focus on this market to help companies with their product and business strategy." Hayes also pointed out that unlike office printing applications, the printing of packaging faces no threat from electronic media.

Two factors are converging to pull color digital into the packaging industry:

• The number and quality of color digital print systems that are available are increasing
• The need for timely, economic short-run printing of packaging for consumer goods is growing

Private labeling—such as the store brand of a popular food category—is one big reason that manufactures are pressing for short runs, as many retailers want that option on their shelves. Meanwhile, mainstream and niche consumer brands have their own applications for short runs, including multiple versions of one product, labels in other languages, and packages or labels with variable printing.

Jim Hamilton, a Group Director at InfoTrends, commented, “Prime labels — the full color labels that convey brand image on consumer packaging — have been the sweet spot for color digital so far,  but two allied applications, folding cartons and flexible packaging, are just beginning to adopt it.” Hamilton added that these young applications share key features of prime labels including small format, focus on brand image, and above all the demand among consumer goods manufacturers for short runs.

To meet the needs of printer, supplies, and software companies interested in learning more about this dynamic market, InfoTrends is launching a new multi-client study entitled Color Digital Printing in Packaging and Prime Labels: A Multi-Client Report. The study will focus on the prime label application as well as folding cartons and flexible packaging. Project objectives include:

• Segment and profile the global package printing industry by major geographic region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, ROW)
• Assess key trends affecting adoption of color digital for prime label, folding carton, and flexible packaging
• Understand the use of production color digital printing technology
• Assess printer service providers’ opinions, purchase intentions, and product requirements for production color digital systems
• Size and forecast the global market for key products (units, revenue) and regions (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, ROW)

To meet these objectives, InfoTrends will conduct in-depth interviews with label and packaging converters and printers, as well as vendors of production level color digital printers and media and a range of consumer goods manufacturers. In addition, InfoTrends will conduct a structured survey with at least 200 label converters.

Early subscriber discounts are available until July 10, 2009. Clients that sign up early will provide input on the structured survey prior to launch. For more information contact Scott Phinney at +1 ext. 123 or e-mail .

InfoTrends, a Questex company, is the leading worldwide market research and strategic consulting firm for the digital imaging and document solutions industry. We provide research, analysis, forecasts, and advice to help clients understand market trends, identify opportunities, and develop strategies to grow their businesses. Additional information about InfoTrends is available on the Web at www.infotrends.com.

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