In the past 18 months, most of us have experienced a moment where we walk down a store aisle to empty shelves or out-of-stock essentials. These extremes led companies to simplify product lines with a focus on stabilizing their supply chain. As we look to minimize logistic challenges and begin reintroducing more versioned products, the digitalization of packaging production can play a key role in successfully achieving these goals.

In a recent FuturePrint survey, the digitalization of packaging production was the top answer regarding respondents’ priorities in 2021 and the near future. Digitalization can help brand owners and packaging printers improve production efficiency and responsiveness to keep up with changing consumer demands.

Digital print, and specifically inkjet, is one of many ways to digitalize packaging and specifically label production. Label converters and brands who take advantage of inkjet label production experience improved customer service, affordable and efficient short runs, as well as opportunities to implement hybrid printing.

Improved Customer Service

Inkjet printing improves customer service and responsiveness through its on-demand capabilities. This technology offers quick setup and fast turnarounds, which supports shorter lead times. Plus, label converters can rapidly fulfill rush order requests from clients. Through digitalizing the label printing process, converters can better meet customer needs, including helping stabilize their supply chains.

Affordable and Efficient Short Runs

With no minimum order quantities or need for plates, inkjet production makes short-run jobs affordable and efficient. The digitalization of the printing process supports new product testing and launches by allowing the brand to purchase the exact quantity of labels needed. Plus, as mentioned above, this is done quickly, so new products or variations get to market faster and with minimum disruptions to the existing packaging supply chain.

Opportunities to Implement Hybrid Printing

Hybrid production, using both digital and flexo printing, can help bring the benefits of digitalization, like versioning, personalization, and variable data, to existing analog environments. Converters can choose which method is best for each part of the label. For example, static elements, including logos and branding, can be produced flexographically, while changing elements, like product images, SKUs, or names, can be printed with inkjet. Hybrid printing provides the production flexibility needed in today’s consumer market.

Colordyne’s Approach to Digitalizing Label Production

Colordyne Technologies focuses on adding inkjet print engines to existing analog equipment as an affordable option for digitalizing label production. Colordyne offers UV LED, water-based pigment, and water-based dye inkjet retrofits so printers can select the right technology for their jobs. By retrofitting, label converters and packaging printers can incorporate digital and hybrid production into their businesses while leveraging the analog assets already on their pressroom floors.