Over the last two weeks, two more leading flexo press manufacturers have made public plans to introduce digital printing machinery at the upcoming Labelexpo Europe in Brussels. Last week, Nilpeter made headlines with its announcement of the Panorama product line and the DP-3, a single pass digital inkjet label printing and converting system. This week, MPS announces it will unveil a hybrid machine – a flexo press equipped with a high quality inkjet printer.

The two press makers are the latest among traditionally conventional printing press manufacturers to announce not only a digital solution, but also one that’s based on inkjet technology. Last year, it was Mark Andy and Gallus throwing their proverbial hats into the digital ring.

The label printing industry’s flexo press leaders are no longer trying to compete with digital, and clearly have adopted an “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” philosophy.

They’re also doing their homework. According to the FINAT Radar, 54% of converters surveyed by the association that are planning to invest in digital are going to choose inkjet over toner-based technology.

Press makers aren’t the only ones doing their R&D. Also last week, Dantex, a prepress specialist, launched the PicoColour II high-speed UV inkjet digital label press. Everybody wants in on the actions it seems.

The future is now in the label industry, and it shows a pressroom capable of handling both the longest and shortest runs using both flexo and digital print methods. Long gone are the days when the two technologies were pitted against each other. The conversation is now about how digital and flexo are complementary. And now you don’t have to change press manufacturers to go digital.

For the converter, the digital dilemma has shifted. It’s no longer about if a company should go digital. It’s about when, and just which of the many options makes the best fit.

A rendering of the recently announced Nilpeter DP-3 inkjet press.