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InfoTrends Releases Extensive Study on Color Digital Printing in Packaging and Prime Labels

(Weymouth, MA) January 12, 2010 . . . High-end color Print On Demand (POD) digital presses are now well established and growing in the multi-billion dollar global packaging industry, with over 1,000 such systems at work worldwide at the end of 2009. “Prime labels, folding cartons, and flexible packaging are a significant growth opportunity for the digital printing industry,” said Bob Leahey, Associate Director at InfoTrends. “There’s no displacement of printing in packaging by electronic media,” he continued, “Instead, packaging is growing with the human population, and color digital print is growing within packaging.” Leahey added that in 2009, gross billings from color POD systems used by packaging and label converters topped $1.8 billion worldwide.

To understand this important opportunity, InfoTrends surveyed hundreds of converters and commercial printers about their applications, volumes, run lengths, substrate and quality requirements, running costs, variable data, and other critical issues related to the adoption and usage of digital color presses. InfoTrends’ analysts also conducted dozens of in-depth interviews with leading suppliers, converters, and brand owners to develop deeper insights into business opportunities, product requirements, and market development strategies.

The research focuses on inkjet and electrophotographic-based narrow format color digital presses from HP Indigo, Xeikon, Agfa, Jetrion, Xerox and others that can operate for three shifts and are capable of printing at least 1 million labels or packaging units per month. The study, which InfoTrends has published this month, also investigated the use of wide format inkjet devices used to print prototypes and very short runs of labels and packaging.

With this focus in mind, the study:

• Assesses key trends affecting adoption of color POD for package and label printing, such as regulatory initiatives, format sizes, and shorter run lengths
• Assesses the use of color POD technology and services in terms of major applications, vertical markets, and differences by geographic region.
• Assesses converters’ opinions, purchase intentions, and product requirements for production POD systems
• Sizes and forecasts the global and regional markets for key products (units, revenue) for color POD printing systems and their output for 2009-2014.
• Sizes and forecasts the global and regional markets for wide format inkjet products (units, revenues)
• Identifies opportunities and strategies for technology, substrate, and supplies vendors, in particular based on converter and customer preferences.

InfoTrends conducted the survey research in partnership with packagePRINTING magazine, part of NAPCO (Philadelphia, PA). The questionnaire addressed a wide range of issues including:

• Types of printing equipment
• Pre-press and post-press capabilities
• Substrates used
• Rate of use of conventional and POD printing equipment
• Desired improvements in printing technologies
• Buying plans

Color Digital Printing in Packaging and Prime Labels is currently available for purchase. For more information please 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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