In this article, Sean Smyth – Print Consultant with Smithers Pira examines the results of a new report that looks at the growth of Digital Print for Packaging to 2022. This report breaks down the projected growth by packaging application, and shows some surprising results.
In 2016 Smithers Pira published the latest version of what has proved to be a well-received report: “The Future of Digital Print for Packaging to 2022”. It looks at the trends, drivers, applications and new technology that is shaping the future production landscape of packaging and labels, with forecasts of the market development over the next five years. These years will see major changes as digital production goes mainstream that will make many brands and retailers look at packaging in new ways, making converters do different things as new supply chains develop.
In 2017 digitally printed labels and packaging add up to an overall $13.2 billion market globally. The label sector was the early adopter and is pretty mature in most regions. There is very strong growth in corrugated as very high performance single pass presses capable of tens of millions of square meters of output annually are snapped up by converters, cartons, flexible packaging and direct-to-shape, with developments in metal printing. In 2022 the sector will grow to be worth $23.2 billion after five healthy years of growth averaging 11.2% in value terms. Tonnage grows at an average CAGR of 28.1%, as cartons and the corrugated packaging comes on stream. So, no wonder you are reading the article – hopefully considering how your organization can take advantage of this growth. You are not alone.
The $13.2 billion is big, but digital packaging is only 3.33% of printed packaging and perhaps a little over 2.0% of all packaging (as there is so much non-printed). In terms of printed area the equivalent of 163 billion A4 prints is just 1.72% of the total, while the 1.7 million tons of products represents just under 1.03% of all packaging. By 2022 the $23.2 billion digital packaging sector will account for nearly 5.3% of packaging by value, the 334 billion A4 prints will be some 3.2% of the print area output while almost six million tons is also 3.2% of the total. So even after five years of very strong growth digital will still be a tiny minority – hardly the major disruption predicted by some. But it is a significant base that will set the stage for major changes in supply chains, and even the functions of packaging which are developing.
Growth is forecast in different applications and different regions at varying rates as shown in the figure, led by the small flexible packaging, metal and rigid plastics while corrugated, cartons and labels are the drivers of real volume growth.
Five-year growth rates in the value of digital packaging sectors from 2012 to 2022. Source: Smithers Pira
As more converters get involved and make investments they will find out how the technologies can be used to benefit their customers. There will be new campaigns and these will be copied, and converters will provide new services and response to their customers which will allow significant supply chain efficiencies, some of which are not clear in early 2017, but will open up over the next years to better suit the final packaging consumers. Satisfying buyers is the goal for all parties.
The digital packaging sector is maturing. Around 2010 the big question for brands and converters was: “What can the technology do?”, and what should it do. After seven years of concentrated development the question has changed to: “Where is the application value?” as all parties across the supply chains realize that using digital printing can help make them money. This is the case for brands/retailers (and their agencies including design), as well as for packaging and label converters, some of whom are really prospering. It is also true for the equipment/consumable suppliers as well, although not all have succeeded.
Drupa 2016 saw a real step-change in the quality and performance of digital printing, from established suppliers and newcomers into the digital arena who are experienced in packaging. HP is the market leader with thousands of Indigo presses producing very high-quality labels, cartons and flexible packaging while its inkjet monster presses are making inroads into corrugated. But HP is by no means alone as others push their quality, productivity and improve their cost of production position. There are important breakthroughs in new substrates and surface treatments, in finishing where digital methods are also making progress, and most importantly in workflow improvements.
Highlights *Significant increase in revenues and net earnings, including organic revenue growth in all three operating sectors. *Revenues of $747.8 million for the quarter ended July 31, 2022; operating earnings of $52.1 million; and net earnings attributable to shareholders of the Corporation of $34.1 million ($0.39 per share). *Acquired ERPI (Éditions du renouveau pédagogique inc.), an educational publisher, on June 13, 2022, to pursue the growth strategy for educational products, both print and digital. *Acquired Banaplast S.A.S., a flexible packaging company based in Armenia, Colombia, on June 22, 2022, which enables the Corporation to pursue its growth strategy with an expanded offering, in particular with banana tree bags and agro-mulches. *Unveiled the 2025 Corporate Social Responsibility Plan, on June 15, 2022, which includes ambitious targets, in particular with respect to the creation of a circular economy, the reduction of greenhouse gases and diversity.
Transcontinental Inc.’s Media Sector, TC Media, announced the sale of 30 publications, including 21 weeklies in the Montréal area, the Métro Montréal weekday newspaper, as well as 8 publications in the Québec City area to a Canadian corporation of which Mr. Michael Raffoul, a Montréal-based businessman, is President. The transaction includes all web properties related to the titles sold as well as the Québec Hebdo website. In total, 119 employees of the various publications and 20 employees from TC Media’s Production team are transferred to the acquirer. TC Transcontinental also concluded a multi-year agreement for the printing of all of these titles, as well as for the distribution, with the exception of Métro Montréal, which is already under contract with Mr. Raffoul’s print media distribution company. In addition to the Métro Montréal newspaper, the Montréal-area publications included in this transaction are: Ambiance/Rendez Vous, L’Avenir de l’Est, Cités Nouvelles, Courrier Ahuntsic, Courrier Bordeaux-Cartierville, Corriere Italiano, L’Express d’Outremont – L’Express Mont-Royal, Le Flambeau Mercier-Anjou, Le Guide Montréal-Nord, Le Magazine de l’Île-des-Soeurs, L’Informateur de Rivière-des-Prairies, Journal de Rosemont, Messager Lachine & Dorval, Le Messager LaSalle, Le Messager Verdun, Nouvelles Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Les Nouvelles Saint-Laurent News, Le Plateau, Progrès Saint-Léonard, Villeray–Parc-Ex Petite Patrie and La Voix Pop. For the Québec City area: L’Actuel, L’Appel, L’Autre Voix, Beauport Express, Charlesbourg Express, Le Jacques-Cartier, Journal Habitation and Le Québec Express, as well as the Québec Hebdo website. Click Read More below for additional information.
The Dayton city commission on Wednesday approved a $1 million development agreement with Taylor Communications — formerly Standard Register Co. — to help fund the renovation of the underutilized downtown building at 111 W. First St., the company’s new home come October. As part of the previously discussed deal, Taylor Communications will move roughly 400 to 500 of its local 700 workers to the 111 building, where they will occupy eight floors. The remaining employees will stay on at Taylor’s current location at 600 Albany St. in Dayton’s west side. According to Dayton Business Journal, the $1 million agreement includes $500,000 from the Montgomery County Economic Development/Government Equity program. Another $500,000 will come from the city of Dayton, and Taylor Communications will spend at least $2.4 million on facility improvements, equipment and other items. Click Read More below for more of the story.
