European digital label press installations overtook conventional press sales for the first time in 2017, according to the latest Finat Radar, published by the label association.
The new report contains a special section on the evolution of digital printing, and the inaugural edition of the Finat Digital Press Index featuring press installation volume figures from every European digital label press manufacturer for 2017.
The latter found that 2017 was the first year that, with nearly 300 digital press installations, the volume of newly added digital label presses surpassed that of new conventional label press installed volumes.
This is a trend that is set to continue, with 45 per cent of Finat converters indicating they will be purchasing a digital press over the next 18 months, with inkjet projection volumes surpassing toner-based and hybrid system projections.
The Radar report also included details about investment levels for digital presses. Nearly 60 per cent of digital presses sold into the European marketplace in 2017 were in the price range of €250,000 to €750,000. Some 10 per cent of digital press installations were priced below €250,000, and 8 per cent of installations were more than €1m.
European trends tend to be replicated in Australia and new Zealand, indicating that digital label presses could be outselling conventional presses here too.