Digital print for packaging is worth $US13.2 billion globally in 2017 and will climb to $US23.2 billion in 2022, according to the latest data from Smithers Pira, a leading researcher on packaging, paper and print industry supply chains.
Smithers Pira’s new report – The Future of Digital Print for Packaging to 2022 – tracks how demand for inkjet and electrophotography print in packaging will evolve across 2017-2022.
This will see an 11.2% annual increase in value across the forecast period and annual 15.4% growth in volume output (A4 sheets equivalent) – up from 163 billion A4 sheets (equivalent) in 2017 to 334 billion in 2022. This reflects the arrival of new higher throughput equipment.
The report says the labels sector has been an early adopter of digital print technology and future expansion will rest heavily on less-developed packaging formats, including corrugated board, folding cartons and flexible plastics
“Growth is forecast in different applications and regions at varying rates,” says Dr Sean Smyth, author of the report. “In packaging, it will be rising sharply as more players get involved, make investments and see how these benefit their customers.
“Converters will also provide new services in response to their customers, which will allow significant supply chain efficiencies – some of which are not clear in early 2017, but will open up over the next few years to better suit the final packaging consumers.
“In 2017, the mainstream corrugated sector has a real appetite for high-volume inkjet liner and postprint systems, to provide new functions and gain plant efficiencies. Implementation is being led by some of the largest companies in the corrugated sector – as well as by more agile independents – leading to the arrival of new dedicated equipment that will enable volume production at a much more economical price.“