Canon Emirates, a subsidiary of Canon Middle East, has signed a partnership with Dynagraph, a Middle East distributor of preprint, print, post-print solutions in the Middle East region. The partnership is a result of Canon’s focused strategy to deliver printing solutions to the graphics arts industry of the region and assist in its growth and development.
Dynagraph will be Canon’s digital print production partner in Emirates and using Canon’s technological expertise, will be able to advise their customers on how to sell digital printing, how to calculate ROI, and how to simply implement digital printing by leveraging their current offset workflows.
According to a market study on The Future of Digital versus Offset Printing to 2020 by Smithers Pira, in 2015 digital print accounted for 13.9% of all print and printed packaging in value terms, but just 2.5% of total world volume. As the world increases moves from offset to digital, the report predicts that in 2020, digital will be 17.4% of value and 3.4% of all print and printed packaging volume.
“Printing and graphic arts industry provides critical services both to businesses and organisations across all sectors of a country’s economy. In today’s world, it is almost impossible to market or sell your wares without office signage, point of sale material, merchandising, sales catalogue, newspaper or magazine advertisements, product packaging or even a corporate logo. Canon recognises the rising competition in the sector and understands their success is anchored on delivering quality print solutions which it can address through its range of market-leading printing machines,” said Shadi Bakhour, General Manager for Canon Emirates.
“We are delighted to partner with Dynagraph which is an established and active player in the industry, and so will be a valuable partner in our strategy to dominate in this market.”
“Dynagraph is a synonymous with quality and excellence. For commercial printers, digital printing technology is no longer considered an option, but a necessity especially when run-lengths are getting shorter and there is increasing pressure for better turnaround. Together with Canon, we will continue to provide print service providers the broadest portfolio of digital products, workflow solutions and business development support in the industry,” said Antoine El Kara, Chief Executive Officer at Dynagraph Holding.
Three key trends in the future of digital vs offset printing, excerpted from Smithers Pira’s latest report, The Future of Digital versus Offset Printing to 2020
In 2015, digital print accounts for 13.9% of all print and printed packaging in value terms, but just 2.5% of total world volume. Not only that, but the offset to digital transition is accelerating however; in 2020 digital will be 17.4% of value and 3.4% of all print and printed packaging volume.
Digital is growing because it can offer advantages that offset print cannot provide. Variable data in transactional and direct mail was introduced in the 1970s. As colour digital presses came to market the initial drivers were for low cost, short runs and quick turnaround. As more companies used the technology, new applications and business models developed for print-on-demand, short-run books; and for inkjet printed signage, where digital technology replaced analogue.
There are also new markets opening up, such as photobooks and photo products, where digital print linked to online ordering has enabled a multibillion dollar market to flourish. Based on a new market study on The Future of Digital versus Offset Printing to 2020, Smithers Pira outlines below three key factors that will determine the futures of these two approaches.
Economics
Printing technology is continuing to develop for offset processes, but the major developments are taking place in digital printing, and particularly inkjet, which is enjoying major investments in research on print heads, inks, and finishing systems. There are also significant developments in enabling workflow technology, for all processes and substrates, with much emphasis on paper to improve the quality of water-based inkjet printing.
The developments are changing the relative cost positions of digital and offset printing. Generally the economic crossover point is getting higher and this will fuel further adoption of digital technology, at the expense of the established litho, flexo and gravure alternatives.
Smithers Pira has developed a costing model that compares digital and offset printing. This builds up the real production costs including capital cost, depreciation period, maintenance, shift pattern, labour rates, energy, make-ready time, plate costs, setup and running waste, print speed and press utilisation, and paper and ink or click cost at variable coverages. The final product can be varied and the model calculates the comparative cost as run lengths change, to show the economic crossover where one process becomes cheaper than another.
As technology and prices change, this model is a useful tool for companies to select the most appropriate technology for their particular markets. It is also useful for equipment suppliers to determine how their technology fits in to the supply market.
Applications
Digital printing will continue to grow in most print sectors across the world. Mono webfed electrophotography is being superseded by full-colour inkjet; but despite this competition, the volume and value of electrophotography will continue to rise as colour applications grow. Innovative users will find more applications and niches to exploit the advantages of digital, some at the expense of offset printing, but also by opening totally new opportunities.
Digital print can incorporate variability that makes it more effective than the static alternative. Users of digital print are innovating, and exploring new ways to offer novel functions and features to print buyers that are valued and sell at a premium.
Business models
Based on changing application requirements, print firms’ approaches to digital and offset will change in the coming years. The choice between digital and offset is not always an either-or decision. As many print suppliers employ both offset and digital as part of their production capacity the two technologies can be complementary. There is greater flexibility for planners to put short runs and quick turnaround on the digital presses, with longer runs staying on their offset equipment. This can improve the overall efficiency of the print shop greatly.
End-use customer preferences and demands are changing and fragmenting. Having both digital and offset solutions means a print service provider can offer the most appropriate solution to the customer.
The case of one company that has achieved success with a new digital press business model is highlighted in the Smithers report. This medium-sized print service provider explains how its litho-capacity has previously been producing a lot of the volume for a particular customer in a very competitive, cost-conscious market.
It was the innovative value added to these jobs by its new digital equipment that is allowing the print service provider to differentiate itself, becoming a valued supplier to the customer, rather than one that is simply competing with rivals on price. The digital work commands high margins meaning that overall the account is very profitable.