See the development and challenge of wide-format digital printing

The large-format digital printing market is being stimulated by the latest technological developments and market applications and is continuing to develop rapidly. Both print service providers and professional designers focus on the market because the new market is experiencing rapid growth over the past. According to statistics of ITStrategies, the output value of the wide-format digital printing market in 2003 has reached 6 billion U.S. dollars. It is estimated that by 2008 it will grow to 9.3 billion U.S. dollars. During this period, the total number of large-scale digital printing machines will be installed from 246,000 units. It has grown to 366,000 units. This rapid growth trend has already been demonstrated in professional exhibitions. The wide digital printing area on Print 05 has reached 20,000 square feet, 13 times more than the 1500 square feet at Graph Expo 2002. . The American Printing Society has announced that it will re-expand its wide-format digital printing showroom, covering an area of ​​61,000 square feet.

In order to meet the fast-growing market demand, printing equipment suppliers are continuing to increase continuous investment in wide-format printing technologies through restructuring and mergers and acquisitions, such as EFI's acquisition of VUTEk, and Fortissimo Capital's investment in NUR Macroprinters' $1.2 million. Hewlett-Packard Co., Ltd. completed the acquisition of Scitex Vision and formed the ink-jet industry subsidiary of HP Image and Printing Group.
Wide digital printing advantages

1. Wide color digital printing market gains rapid growth

The rapid growth of the wide-format color digital printing market is obvious to all. Experts expect that by 2009, the wide-format color digital printing market will continue to see rapid double-digit growth. This kind of rapid growth is the role of new market application development, or the inevitable result of new technology development. It is still difficult to draw conclusions. It is considered that the result of the joint action of the two parties may be more accurate because the development of new technologies has enabled the printing service providers to rapidly possess processing capabilities to complete certain types of printing. At the same time, the development of new market applications has driven the development of new technologies. Further demand.

Equipment suppliers continue to benefit from the development of new technologies and continuously improve the productivity, quality and reliability of wide-format digital printing equipment. The printing quality and resolution of most of the equipment have been greatly improved, the ink droplet size has become smaller, the color gamut has been expanded, the market price has decreased, and the technological advances in equipment have enabled the printing service providers to develop new markets and new applications extensively. Customers, and get more from the existing customers, provide more types of products and services. Today, multi-functional digital printing output devices have enabled service providers not only to provide fine arts, photos, proofs, signs, maps, POP advertising, short-run labels and special products, but also in glass, metal, carpets and fabrics. It prints on a variety of substrates.

The shift from analog printing to digital printing has prompted printing equipment suppliers to continuously develop and improve new technologies, and is setting off a new wave of business. This allows printers to obtain faster, better and more innovative customers than ever before. Provide full service capabilities. The transformation to the digital printing world not only enriched the print production methods of printers, but also expanded the printing application market.

The development of wide-format digital printing technology meets the needs of short-run printing. In the past, color printing had to be mass-produced, and the number of prints was unacceptable. Users had to book silk screens or offset prints of 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 or more prints, which made customers often feel unbearable. It has not reached the application market that needs such a large amount of printing. On the other hand, the traditional printing equipment is only suitable for large-scale printing. Today, due to the emergence of short-run digital printing, advertisements such as signage and banners are rapidly growing.

The latest technological development has enabled printers to not only engage in broader market services, but also expand the portfolio of services provided to customers. The application of the market and the transformation of all information data from analog to digital have opened the door to digital information applications, and it will be transformed into a highly versatile market with vast print output. In the fields of journals, advertising printing, and banner printing, once digital workflows are adopted, printing customers can take full advantage of digital information and have the opportunity to express information content in various forms of printing. This makes both customers themselves and their printing applications undergo experience. Great changes.

2. The market application is expanding

As printers’ digital printing capabilities have improved, they have also begun to reorient themselves. This trend is evident in the wide-format digital printing market and other areas. More and more fast printing companies have purchased wide-format digital printing equipment not only for printing proofing, but also for developing window displays, exhibitions, outdoor advertising signs, banners, exquisite artwork printing and other rapidly growing application markets. This new investment by printers stems from the existing processing experience and the grasp of quality, especially the original professional color reproduction capabilities and advanced equipment, also makes it very easy for them to adapt to this change.

Professional printers include screen printers, advertising printers or fast printing companies. Now they are breaking through their existing service areas and continuing business expansion, which is crucial for their future long-term development. Commercial printers have also begun to pay attention to wide-format digital printing, and it is no longer just looking at digital printing from the point of view of proofing, but from the point of view of wide digital printing that can be used for packaging, indoor and outdoor signage production. Only from the proofing point of view, large-format digital printing technology and applications have matured, but commercial printers are now combining wide-format digital printing technology with the original processing capabilities to expand the market application of this technology, this change stems from the continuous customer New business needs are raised, and printers want to be able to provide customers with higher-value services.

3. The added value of printed materials is greatly improved

With the commercialization of printed products and services, customers are paying more attention to printing prices, which not only results in a decrease in the profitability of printing services, but also deteriorates the value of the relationship between printers and customers. However, with the ability to provide higher value-added services, printers and customers have achieved a win-win relationship from their close relationship, and the commercial relationship between them has also improved.

Now, most commercial printers are realizing that their relationship with customers is not just about processing printed matter, but about the services they provide in application technology, database technology, and so on. As the nature of the company is further transformed into a market, printers are beginning to expand their service range and strive to provide customers with a wider range of printing services. From the perspective of annual revenue and profit growth, the biggest value and opportunity for printers lies in their ability to provide market services. In the field of commercial printing, whether printers focus on analog printing or certain specific printing services, they are now beginning to realize that they must change. Although their transformation faces many challenges, such as the need for huge capital investment and technology investment, but also the need for employees to invest in intellectual investment and the ability to complete the processing system, but to make future career more successful, you must experience Bigger, faster transitions, which speed up the value added of print.