Let's Get Digital

Cost savings, reduced waste, high quality—what's not to love about digital print? According to IBISWorld, the digital print industry has seen 4.1 percent annual growth from 2009 to 2014. We spoke to two leading suppliers to find out what's trending in the world of digital print, what advancements they've made at their companies, and what distributors should take into account when selling digital.

Why Go Digital?

Tony Rouse, president and CEO of Team Concept Printing, Carol Stream, Ill., said that digital printing has allowed for new value-added security applications. "[One] of the new digital printing applications we have been using is an invisible security feature that cannot be viewed by the naked eye, but can under a security light," Rouse said. "This helps with things like high-end tickets or badges."

Rouse added that while the ability to efficiently do short run or variable printing jobs has always been a major draw to digital equipment, he is most impressed with the quality of the work. "With how high the quality is now on these machines, more and more people do it for the smooth vibrant colors." Using white in printing processes has even allowed Team Concept Printing to produce vibrant colors on clear or dark substrates.

Pat Larson, marketing director for Repacorp Inc., Tipp City, Ohio, said that digital print has a considerable advantage when it comes to cutting costs and waste. "Art is sent directly to the press, which eliminates the cost and time of making plates," she explained. "Setting up a digital press takes about 15 minutes and about 3' of material, compared to a flexographic press, which takes about three hours to set up and about 2,000' of material." Ever since Repacorp added laser cutting to its digital printing capabilities, the cost and time necessary to make tooling has been eliminated, she said.