New Developments and New Trends in Printing Industry

The economic integration and the development of the network economy have brought current production out of the traditional model. Like the production of automobiles and other industrial products, it is not what companies produce or what customers buy, but what customers set and what companies produce. Whether it is book printing or packaging printing, you can order or even charge for reproduction first. The production volume may not be tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands but thousands, hundreds, tens, even one or one. This is the so-called "zero inventory" production.

Xerox has demonstrated a short-run book production system that can produce a book for customers that rivals traditional books. “Liberty has no limit” is a concept introduced by Komori. The DONET system it proposed in 1998 is based on the Internet. Compatible with open systems and digital products from other vendors' technologies and products. The printing room is short version and diversified.

As the printing market is driven by small batches and varieties, the direct plate making technology (CTP) has developed rapidly. According to the statistics of the ranking of international major printing and publishing technologies published by the United States Printing Technology Foundation (GATF), computer-to-plate technology ranks first for three consecutive years. At present, nearly 5,000 sets of direct plate-making systems have been installed in the world. In 1996, 55% of the top 100 large-scale printing companies in the United States had adopted a direct plate-making system.

Direct Imaging Technology (DI) has achieved high-speed development because it can print graphics and information directly from the computer to the plate of the press and print directly. Heidelberg's GTO-DI presses have used 1,400 units worldwide. The DICOWEB presses introduced by MAN Roland at the exhibition no longer use disposable plates. They are printed on washable metal sleeves and are positioned on short live printing. Cooperating with CREO-SCITEX Corporation, Komori launched the PROJECT D on-machine direct imaging press, which uses the no-clean thermal imaging, and is the largest direct imaging press on the market today.

At this exhibition, there were 78 exhibitors of flexo printing machines, more than 38 exhibitors of gravure printing machines, reflecting that flexo printing has developed rapidly in recent years and is the fastest growing among various printing methods. The typical product of the packaging industry, the flexo printing machine for folding cartons, is a feature of this exhibition. The quality and production efficiency of flexo printing have been greatly improved, which has changed the situation where offset printing is dominant in the folding carton printing.

Although the CTP (Direct Plate Making Technology) using traditional plates appeared at the exhibition, it also proved that the thermal CTP plate has matured and occupied the dominant position in the market. With the further decline in the cost of thermal plates, it will replace the ordinary PS plate, becoming the mainstream of plate production.

Digital printing technology advances

Since INDIGO launched the world's first color digital printer in 1993, digital printing has greatly improved in terms of print quality, printing format, and printing speed. Digital printing has occupied a large part of the market that originally belonged to offset printing. At present, nearly 4,000 digital presses have been installed worldwide.

At this exhibition, some super-offset press manufacturers have marched to the digital printing press market, causing people's concern. The joint venture between Heidelberg and Kodak Company has introduced the NEXPRESS 2100 digital press as the focus of attention. The machine not only has the quality and speed of an offset press, but also has the flexibility and convenience of a printer. It will be introduced to the market in 2001 and the price will be less than 350,000 US dollars.

Network and printing are closely integrated.

In today's world, companies cannot compete in the world if they cannot order on the Internet and cannot transmit, produce and settle through the Internet.

The digital workflow is the highlight of this exhibition. It realizes the digital processing of the entire process before printing, printing, and printing of the printing plant, and connects the printing plant with users, publishers, and equipment material suppliers through the Internet. Remote ordering, proofing, and settlement. Fujifilm's website, MYFUJIFILM.COM, attracts attention. It provides printing companies with B TO B TO B (business-to-business) tools for e-commerce.

Cross-media publishing technology and traditional printing are competing. The use of cross-media publishing technology can form text, image, audio and video signals into different media products, such as: prints, video tapes, CD-ROMs (CD-ROMs), and online publications. According to Heidelberg company statistics: In 1995, the print media accounted for 70% of market share, and electronic media accounted for only 30%; by 2010, print media will account for 48% of market share, and electronic media will account for 52%.