Digital Printing Observations — The Technology Race Is On

But the PrintCom analysis of digital print systems just coming to market, as well as behind-the-scenes looks at research and development efforts and products in the pipeline, suggests that the one-third digital process market share estimate by 2012-2015 may be conservative.

The penetration of digital printing into mainstream commercial printing has been limited by the relatively slow output speed of the process, as well as the high cost of toner. Although ink-jet printers are the dominant output technology in the small office/home office output equipment market segment, and are the almost universal method for addressing catalogs, magazines and a significant portion of direct mail, the process’ penetration into digital production color has been almost nil.