The November/December issue of Label & Narrow Web has historically been dedicated to digital printing technologies. And as we wrap up 2021 and begin making plans for the future, there is no more appropriate time to delve into this market, which is experiencing significant growth.

With society grappling with supply chain challenges and the continued effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, digital printing has emerged as a viable remedy to many of the industry’s challenges. While digital has long been a hot topic in the industry, converters are now investing in record numbers. The short-run nature of digital printing has allowed converters to meet requests at a moment’s notice. Meanwhile, the flexibility and variable data capabilities have opened up new avenues that will serve customers well into the future. With e-commerce booming, the importance of providing track-and-trace capabilities and secure functionality will only become that much more magnified.

“Digital printing today isn’t a technology that is niche,” Corey Reardon, president of AWA Alexander Watson Associates, said at the recent Label Congress. “It’s a mainstream technology that’s competing with flexo, not augmenting it like in years’ past.”

Digital printing has also opened up a pathway for new markets. When visiting with Nova Label over the summer, president Alan Rich explained how his investment in a Colordyne 3800 Series UV – Retrofit would allow the Maryland-based converter to target new markets like craft beer. Cannabis labels (page 66) are another such market, which typically require ultra-short runs and eye-popping graphics. Any number of markets might not make sense to produce flexographically, but digital presses are ideally suited for those shorter runs. Plus, converters can optimize their flexo presses by running the correct jobs on the appropriate press, thereby maximizing efficiency.

In speaking with dozens of converters throughout the past two years, one of the biggest pain points has been the ability to attract a skilled workforce. The use of automation, data and connectivity will further lend itself to the next generation of printers, one that has grown up with these types of disruptive technologies.

While price has often been a considerable barrier for entry into this market, manufacturers are expanding their offerings to provide digital at affordable prices. The aforementioned Colordyne retrofit is one such way for a converter to add digital printing capabilities without investing in a brand-new production class press. Meanwhile, several manufacturers, such as Domino, are promoting programs to get converters in the door. Domino has developed an In-House Leasing Program, which allows customers to pay for their new Domino N610i digital UV inkjet label press over a period of time, typically three to five years with fixed, monthly payments. Learn more about this offering in our Label Insights feature on page 60.

Digital printing has proven to be more than a luxury these days. It is now a necessity for many label converters, and that trend is only going to become more prevalent as we head into 2022.


Greg Hrinya, Editor
[email protected]