New Study Details Sheetfed Trends
A new study on sheetfed lithography by PRIMIR (the Print Industries Market Information and Research Organization) reveals that commercial sheetfed printers plan to increase their dependence on automation in the years ahead. Several printers attributed stabilized print prices and higher profit levels to on-press automation and technological advances.
The study also revealed that while some printers are making great strides in implementing Job Definition Format (JDF) enabled workflows, the vast majority of respondents appear to lack the workforce competencies required to market, implement and manage highly automated JDF workflows.
Not surprisingly, the study found that “environmental issues have crowded out health and safety matters,” likely due to the ever-stricter health and safety regulations already in place. Within the next three years, a majority of the respondents feel issues related to corporate social responsibility, sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions will affect their entire operation including their press and supplies decisions.
The PRIMIR study revealed that a number of sheetfed printers also operate digital presses—but mainly as short-run, quick-turnaround imaging machines, and not to produce unique high-value variable data work. For their “bread and butter” work, these printers tend to favor “utility-type” sheetfed presses (24˝ to 42˝) with perfecting and on-press coating or curing becoming the norm.
To purchase the full study, visit www.primir.org
