Continuous-feed Inkjet: The Web Paper Challenge
While the market for print has been in decline since 2000, digital printing has continued to grow at double-digit rates, and the new generation of continuous-feed inkjet presses promises to accelerate this growth. At drupa 2012, we saw a host of new entrants, as well as upgrades from the earlier entrants: one drupa visitor reported seeing 18 different inkjet engines. As Figure 1 shows, the speed and productivity of inkjet presses has grown, and inkjet printing has grown apace.
Printers face a number of tradeoffs in selecting presses, ink and paper for production inkjet. This article will explore the challenges and solutions relating to paper in key applications, including transactional and transpromo, book, direct mail and general commercial printing.
Jack Miller is founder and Principal Consultant at Market-Intell LLC, offering Need to Know™ market intelligence in paper, print and packaging. Previously, he was senior consultant, North America, with Pira International.
Known as the Paper Guru, Jack is the former director of Market Intelligence with Domtar, where he also held positions as regional sales manager, territory sales manager and product manager. He has presented at On Demand, RISI’s Global Outlook, PRIMIR, SustainCom World and at various IntertechPira conferences. Jack has written for Printing Impressions, Canadian Printer, Paper 360, PaperTree Letter and Package Printing, along with publishing a monthly e-newsletter, MarketIntellibits.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from The College of the Holy Cross and has done graduate studies in Statistics and Finance.
