Welcome to the revolutionary phase of the printing and packaging scenario. Digital printing has taken responsibility for radically changing the printing industry. Precise digital printing for packaging is truly ready to keep exploring new substrates and categories including flexible and folding cartons.
Here are some factors to keep in mind when evaluating digital printing for packaging.
Run Size:
Digital printing is quickly becoming popular in markets that require frequently updated and specialty labels such as craft beer and wine. Brands with multiple SKUs and smaller brands benefit the most from digital printing. Reducing material waste and short turnaround times make it a very cost-effective choice.
Speed to Market:
Conventional printing methods such as gravure, flexo, and offset sometimes require several weeks to prepare rolls or plates and set up the printer. CPG companies, perhaps due to competitive advantage or poor planning barely allow enough time before needing fresh new designs, especially with promotional and seasonal campaigns. So prompt delivery is paramount and digital printing is increasing and meeting demand quickly and effectively.
Material Cost:
There’s no point in comparing flexo and digital because it’s like comparing oranges to apples. However, a little careful scrutiny of all the relevant numbers will clearly reveal where cost savings can actually be realized. Consider the cost of materials and only then can you compare the total costs involved.
Waste appears to be an important factor in evaluating printing costs in the long term. The standard overrun percentage appears to be lower with digital. In addition, with the constant demands from retailers and customers, stored labels often become obsolete. This can really be a big loss.
Time Cost:
Both long-term and short-term costs of the time factor are increasingly being examined and analyzed in the current scenario. Limiting factors in any manufacturing chain can clog management processes and designs in unthinkable ways. It’s very difficult to concentrate on your next project if your current project is still prepressed. If you search Mumbai high quality printing service provider, just check the yellow pages.
SKU & Variability:
Beverage companies that offer a wide variety of flavors, performance lines, and diet options can understand the advantages of local and on-demand printing. But even in the absence of some SKUs, a lot of newbies brand owners create multiple designs for one SKU.
International Presence:
You should assess long term printing plans. In addition, the need for foreign languages on packaging is still growing over time and is certainly becoming more specific. Digital is best for national brands reaching international markets. Remember the dominant players in the market are often forced to start their business with small volumes. In addition, they want to stay connected, committed and dedicated to the market with well-manufactured and designed multilingual packages.
Converter Flexibility:
You have to plan well in advance. It is common practice to start printing on digital first and gradually with increasing volume switch to flexo printing. More often than not, digital is actually used as a trial run, a subtle supplement to the flexo or proofing process. Make sure that the printer promises seamless replacement including production run samples and proof copies.
Conclusion
It might be a little difficult for everyone to understand and acknowledge the hype associated with digital printing and packaging simply because the actual penetration of the packaging market still seems quite low, percentage-wise. The initial phenomenal success was actually labels for beverage and food products, but things are poised to move on to other categories, as well as, other substrates such as flexible and folding cardboard. Therefore, it is very important to plan well in time and consider all relevant factors associated with going digital.
