The Future of the In-plant Industry
IPG’s December issue has just gone to press and should hit your desk in the next couple of weeks. Once again we’ve cast our eyes forward to focus on the trends that will impact your in-plant in 2008 and beyond. Here are a few samples of what you will see in our December issue:
• More than 60 percent of print buyers expect the amount of print produced at their in-plants to increase in relation to print produced with outside vendors over the next two years.
• To be successful, in-plants can no longer depend on placing ink and toner on paper—today’s market is all about adding value to the document.
• Linking an electronic storefront with a digital press creates an even more efficient system for developing and producing short-run, customized materials.
• Offering Web-based submission helps with the all-important perception of your in-plant. Suddenly your printing operation is seen to be as modern as everything else being offered on the Web—and that’s not a bad way to be seen.
• Security printing is an expanding class of technology that may offer in-plants a way to differentiate their capabilities. New developments are making it more affordable to add security features.
• In-plants will find new growth potential by offering integrated services to comprise multimedia communications and campaigns, such as linking PURLs with VDP direct mail.
• Chemistry-free violet plates are on the horizon for Drupa. Once these plates are available, they will give a whole new meaning to the violet CTP devices already installed in the field.
• In-plants should consider how they will be able to efficiently provide a range of traditional offset print, versioned printing and personalization to compete in a continuously evolving market.
• MIS provides the ability to coordinate the activities of multiple departments into a seamless workflow by capturing data at the beginning of the cycle and tracking changes throughout the production, fulfillment and financial processes.
