Digital Domain

Digitally Printed Packaging and Labels

LEATHERHEAD, UK—The global market for digitally printed packaging and labels is projected to reach $2.4 billion in 2009, according to a new study by Pira International (www.pira-international.com). Expanding by nearly three times, this market is forecasted to grow by an overall 182 percent and a healthy CAGR of 23 percent to reach close to $6.8 billion by 2014.

Based on primary research and analysis, "The Future of Digital Printing for Packaging" breaks down the global market by packaging type, end-use market, application, geographic region, and production process, with 5-year forecasts to 2014. It identifies the strengths and weaknesses associated with digital print for packaging during the 2009 to 2014 period. The study also provides a detailed overview of key demand drivers and trends, along with an analysis of the competitive landscape for the industry.

A major driver for digital printing is the need for customization and shorter press runs, in order to minimize inventories. Digital, on-demand printing of labels and packages has now become critical in the context of the current economic downturn and waste reduction initiatives, since less material, energy, and inks are used.

With regard to the global market for digital printed packaging and labels by sector, Pira International expects digital usage in flexibles to grow by four to five times during the 2009 to 2014 period, driven by the brand owners' search for innovation and the converters' desire for faster press speeds.

Dscoop Announces New Board Members for 2010

CHICAGO—Dscoop (Digital Solutions Cooperative) has added two new members to its board of directors for 2010. Newly elected members are Hewlett-Packard's 
(HP) Boris Bel and Rod Key of R and R Images.

"We are both pleased and very fortunate to have Boris and Rod join our team," said Christopher Petro, 2009 Dscoop chairman of the board. "Boris provides invaluable support from HP and Rod has already been an active leader of Dscoop as an advisory board member in 2009 and the head of the marketing committee."

Dscoop also named Yogev Barak of HP to the advisory board.

"Dscoop plays a prominent role in the digital print arena and continues to provide an arena for progressive-minded digital print service providers and their vendor partners to collaborate," said Francis McMahon, Dscoop board member and director of marketing, HP U.S. Graphic Arts. "Boris, Rod, and Yogev will continue the momentum that has made Dscoop one of the best forums ever to capture business success."

Continuing board members are:

• Christopher Petro, GlobalSoft Digital Solutions;
• Larry Vaughn, Ideal Printers;
• Craig Curran, Nosco;
• Francis McMahon, HP;
• Susan Moore, Digital Printing & Imaging Inc.;
• Mark Sarpa, Progressive Solutions;
• David Smith, Williams Visual Solutions.

Dscoop5, the organization's 2010 Annual Conference, will take place Feb. 18-20 in Dallas, Texas.

SpencerLab Updates 
Digital Printer Test Suite

MELVILLE, N.Y.—The SpencerLab Digital Color Laboratory (SDCL) announced its latest update, version 4.2, to the SpencerLab Printer Test Suite. SDCL, the independent test division of Spencer & Associates Publishing, Ltd., provides unbiased, third-party digital color testing.

The Test Suite covers a full breadth of markets and is a printing industry standard for print and image quality analysis. More than a dozen firms sponsored its development in order to have access to more meaningful measurement tools and standards, including Adobe, Canon, Kodak, EFI, HP, Konica Minolta, Lexmark, Océ, Okidata, Toshiba, Xerox, and Ziff Davis Enterprise.

The update is available at 
www.spencerlab.com/MySpencerLab at no charge to current licensees of v4.1. pP