Continuous-Feed Inkjet Paper Options Continue to Ramp Up
Cleary, the high growth rates indicate that continuous-feed inkjet printing is meeting the challenges. Inkjet is finding opportunities in new types of jobs, in replacing offset with shorter runs with variable data, and in replacing toner-based printing with longer runs at lower cost as data mining improves. IT Strategies estimates that 51 percent of inkjet pages are replacement of toner-based pages, while only 31 percent are replacement of offset. The balance, 18 percent, is new pages. This suggests that the early success has largely derived from converting those who already understand the value proposition for digital printing. However, Marco Boer, IT Strategies vice president, advises that the future growth will likely be in new pages, and that new pages will surpass offset replacement or toner replacement within five years.
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.
