State of the Industry: Labels, Digital Printing Making Significant Inroads
As noted, inkjet label volume is smaller than EP, but is growing at 57 percent per year. By one count, there were 39 inkjet players at the last Labelexpo in Brussels. Inkjet for labels is virtually all UV, led by EFI Jetrion. While UV offers better image quality than aqueous, food contact issues limit the growth of UV, and provide an impetus for aqueous inkjet. Xerox Impika uses piezo-electric printheads with dye or pigment water-based inks, while Epson offers its Micro Piezo inkjet technology aqueous inkjet with water-based pigment inks. Epson handles standard ps label substrates including gloss and matte paper stocks, plus films such as BOPP and PET.
Jack Miller is founder and Principal Consultant at Market-Intell LLC, offering Need to Know™ market intelligence in paper, print and packaging. Previously, he was senior consultant, North America, with Pira International.
Known as the Paper Guru, Jack is the former director of Market Intelligence with Domtar, where he also held positions as regional sales manager, territory sales manager and product manager. He has presented at On Demand, RISI’s Global Outlook, PRIMIR, SustainCom World and at various IntertechPira conferences. Jack has written for Printing Impressions, Canadian Printer, Paper 360, PaperTree Letter and Package Printing, along with publishing a monthly e-newsletter, MarketIntellibits.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from The College of the Holy Cross and has done graduate studies in Statistics and Finance.
