Continuous-feed Inkjet: Paper Plays a Starring 'Roll'
Continuous-feed inkjet is replacing both electrophotography and offset. It has been suggested that, for high-end graphic arts with ink coverage above 30 percent, inkjet begins to hit limits. Image quality does not match Indigo or iGen, but it is close, and it has been suggested that the limiting factor may well be economics more than quality. As ink coverage pushes above 30 percent, improved papers may be able to handle it, but the cost of ink can be a major factor. However, Canon's Broadhurst notes that toner is more expensive than inkjet inks, and the cost per page for inkjet is 10 percent to 20 percent less than toner. Broadhurst suggests that the larger issue with inkjet is that all of the water absorbed by the sheet in inkjet printing makes cutting and finishing difficult.
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.
