Six key trends for printers in 2022: Konica Minolta

Auspack exhibitor Konica Minolta (stand D020) predicts 2022 will to be a stronger year for the print industry due to demand for applications such as label, light packaging, and wide-format printing. The print industry is already showing strong signs of economic recovery.

Tatjana Ferguson, product marketing manager – production and industrial print, Konica Minolta, said, “As 2022 kicks off, printers have significant opportunities to diversify and expand their capabilities. Print businesses that adopt new technology and take advantage of these key trends will play a considerable role in their customers’ success and, in turn, their own growth and success for the future.”

There are six key trends that printers can capitalise on this year, according to Konica Minolta:

1. Changing supply chains foster boom for digital print
Digital print can help overcome some of the supply chain and delivery timeframe issues for e-commerce with more flexibility than traditional print methods and the capacity to create personalised experiences with digital designs, smart packaging, scannable QR codes, and shareable links. Digital print is also a more environmentally sustainable option for e-commerce because it produces fewer emissions, less waste, and the use of more sustainable materials, making it also more cost-effective.

2. Automation is a necessity for business-boosting efficiencies
Automation will continue to deliver significant benefits for printers and the industry will see more automated initiatives adopted in 2022. Automated print workflows and inline finishing systems will save printers considerably in human resources and costs, with jobs completed faster and with less errors. Automating workflows will provide printers with an opportunity to offer more complex services and receive and manage orders 24/7.

Other key areas where printers should look to automate to boot business efficiency include: web to print; job submission/prepress; colour management; variable data printing; finishing; and device management.

3. Value adds are key to increasing profitability and improving margins
Research has shown that 22 per cent of people are more likely to buy the item when they can touch it, so digital embellishment is an important way to help products stand out, creating impactful packaging experiences.

(1) Digital embellishment lets printers add spot UV varnishing, 3D embossed and textural effects, and foiling to traditional print to provide premium experiences.

4. Wide-format printing will continue to offer opportunities
Printers that can produce wide-format and large-format materials, such as posters, wallpapers, and banners, can attract new customers looking to promote their business in an impactful way, opening up new revenue streams.

Wide-format printing can also be a more cost-efficient print method compared to other options such as screen printing, particularly for short-run jobs. It provides versatility, with the availability to print on any material from vinyls to rigid boards, which means printers that offer wide-format printing can take advantage of more opportunities.

5. Demand for digital inkjet printing will increase
The growth of e-commerce has increased the need for lightweight, easy-to-handle, cost-effective packaging. For printers considering new technology it is important to choose a solution that can print these types of applications on a variety of different materials without compromising quality or speed. Digital inkjet print technology can achieve this.

A reliable digital inkjet press can deliver excellent quality across a variety of materials, with light-emitting diodes (LED) ultraviolet (UV) light technology delivering key benefits such as instant drying, printing on non-porous substances, high-resolution output, a wide colour gamut, duplex printing, precise registration, high stability, light-fastness, and different finishing options. Digital inkjet printing produces lightweight packaging, printing directly onto packaging at a lower cost and faster rate, and is predicted to increase in demand in the next few years.

6. Packaging megatrends
There are three major packaging megatrends that printers should be aware of in 2022, including:

• increased focus on sustainability: reducing waste and using more sustainable materials to create a circular economy
• interactive packaging: including more interactive elements like QR codes that create stronger connections to brands
• Instagrammable designs: eye-catching, exceptional designs to attract the attention of influencers and customers alike.

Packaging has become an inextricable part of the customer experience and must be tactile and impactful. The unboxing of products is now just as important to customer experience as the use of the product itself, meaning printers will increasingly look to leverage digital presses with embellishment capabilities to product impactful designs.

Tatjana Ferguson said, “Digital technology will be a vital element for printers in the coming years as customer and consumer demands evolve. Leveraging digital print technology will provide printers with new capabilities, flexibility, and increased versatility to deliver exceptional experiences without adding untenable costs. Printers that adopt this technology alongside automated solutions will be in a good position for success and growth during 2022 and beyond.”

(1) Reference:  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227630721_The_Effect_of_Mere_Touch_on_Perceived_Ownership