This week, FuturePrint in partnership with Ricoh Europe,  launch the results from the FuturePrint & Pack Survey. The survey was conducted throughout September of this year with over 200 respondents from across the packaging and print supply chain and from over 30 countries.

Digitalization is in Demand to Add Flexibility to Production

The Survey Results reveal a sector that is accelerating a shift to digitalisation not least to help it cope with the considerable challenges it has been confronted with since the start of the COVID-19 crisis.

The logistical disruption challenges the packaging sector has experienced continue to add stress on a supply chain that is not fully digitalised and therefore less able to respond to fast-changing demand, logistical challenges and sustainable goals.

Despite these challenges, growth expectations are bullish with over 80% believing growth to be over 5% year on year and nearly 20% believing growth will be above 15%.

Graham Kennedy, Director of Industrial Print at Ricoh Europe says, “The results reveal a market that is bullish about the future despite the challenges confronting it now. The shift to digitalization is growing momentum with some of the worlds largest packaging producers needing more flexibility in production, a greater need to brand pack later on in the process, improved agility and responsiveness. While the shift to digitalization will not happen overnight, but many believe that digital inkjet printing technology is going to be playing a far larger role in packaging print within the next 2 years. The unique characteristics of inkjet have significant appeal for packaging professionals with its unique ability to add flexibility, agility and responsiveness into production.”

Marcus Timson, Co-Founder of FuturePrint concludes, “The need for digital solutions has risen far higher up the agenda in packaging than before COVID. Faced with challenges impossible to predict and that are fast-moving, digital technology is being given greater focus out of necessity. Digitalization, and in particular digital inkjet technology is now needed to enable the packaging sector to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow not least to achieve the net-zero targets that have become even more important now. The pressure is on, and the digital inkjet technology sector is primed, ready and willing to help.”

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