Production inkjet technology has transformed direct mail, books and transactional printing.

By Erik Cagle

"The range of jetted materials and substrates is staggering," Hamilton proclaims. "Digital print technologies are commonly used on paper and to some extent plastics, but the use of inkjet for printing on foil, metal, ceramics, textiles, wood and glass are all on the rise. It's no surprise, then, that many of the production digital print announcements of 2013 focused on non-document applications like ceramics, labels, flexible packaging, folding cartons and corrugated boxes. In fact, one of the most exciting 3D print applications is in creating prototypes for use in package design. This helps manufacturers get products to market sooner and drives economic opportunity."