Benefits of digital inkjet printing
Corrugated board is a popular material for point-of-purchase (POP) displays because it can support the weight of merchandised products.
Until a few years ago, manufacturers typically relied on converters and packaging suppliers to produce their packaging. The issue was many of these intermediaries used analogue printing devices to handle production, creating the need for long lead times and large order volumes. Today’s digital colour printers are transforming the process, making it possible for corrugated packaging to be produced quickly, efficiently, and with personalization. Digital inkjet technology offers numerous benefits for package printing, particularly with short runs.
Ease of use
In today’s competitive market, standing out in the crowd is more important than ever before. Brand owners and retailers alike are relying on eye-catching packages, displays, signs, and other visual communications to ensure their products remain top-of-mind among consumers. Many of these items can now be produced on colour digital packaging printers, which are compact enough for even small operations. In many cases, today’s manufacturers and print shops can now handle package printing in-house rather than outsourcing the work. Further, because these devices are easy to set up and operate, there is no need to hire specialist employees to handle the equipment.
Efficiency
With digital inkjet technology, relevant product/order information and images can be printed directly onto the package, eliminating the time-consuming and error-prone process of multiple print runs or applying labels to packages. This streamlines the ordering process and makes it easier for manufacturers to manage multiple stock keeping units (SKUs) and highly customized/personalized projects.
Prototyping/proofing
Digital inkjet presses are ideal for creating proofs and prototypes. Once production decisions have been made, these proofs/prototypes can be printed in higher quantities on traditional analogue presses.
Although today’s digital wide-format devices are colour accurate, they require colour calibration (a form of colour profiling). Companies that are serious about adding digital wide-format colour printing to their offerings will have some colour matching requirements. It is a good idea to have an employee who is specially trained for the critical colour-matching role. Some digital inkjet printer manufacturers offer colour management software, spectrophotometers, and training on colour profiling
so one can get started quickly.
With digital inkjet, corrugated materials can be produced on an as-needed basis in the exact quantities required.
Increased customization and personalization
Today’s consumers demand a personalized shopping experience, and packaging is part of this equation. With digital inkjet printing, the messaging on a package can be changed on a very frequent basis. The possibilities are endless—text, images, and other graphics on a package can be customized for specific locations, age demographics, different ethnicities, dietary needs, or holidays/seasons, etc. In addition to providing protection for the contents inside, it can catch a consumer’s eye, make an item stand out in a sea of similar products, highlight important information, or draw attention to any differentiating features. Packaging is a connection between a brand and a consumer, and people will be more likely to reach for a product that speaks to their individual needs and preferences. This is the reason why personalization is so important—and it is also why brand owners change their packaging so often.
Improved print quality
Due to ongoing innovations in printhead/toner technologies, water-based inkjet ink, colour management workflow software, and real-time, closed-loop colour controls, the print quality of digital inkjet press solutions is better than ever. Colour is a major component of a company’s identity, and digital inkjet printing makes it possible to replicate precise corporate hues time and time again.
Environmentally friendly
With digital inkjet, corrugated materials and containers can be produced on an as-needed basis in the exact quantities required. With the ability to cost-effectively print short runs, packaging designs can be changed as often as required without excess inventory. Further, most corrugated materials can be recycled, enabling a high level of sustainability.
