drupa reveals five major trends in the global packaging and printing market! Automated, digital, unmanned factory ……

For decades, packaging, while closely related to people’s daily lives, was often overlooked. In recent years, with the development of technology and the improvement of market consumption level, the industry has gradually stepped into the spotlight. At present, some contingencies and structural factors are reshaping the packaging and printing industry, and contingency factors refer to those external events or situations that occur suddenly and affect the development of the industry, such as rising energy and raw material prices, labor shortages, etc.; Structural factors refer to those internal factors that affect the development of the industry for a long time, such as technological changes and market changes. While these factors may not fundamentally challenge the notoriously resilient packaging printing industry, they are forcing all players to usher in a new wave of change.

1. What factors are changing the packaging and printing industry?

First, from the contingencies that clearly affect profit margins:

Energy and raw material prices are rising. Even passing on significantly higher costs to customers is not sustainable in the long run. It is essential for equipment suppliers to introduce energy-efficient production equipment. At the same time, quality control and waste reduction are key. It is clear from drupa 2024 that suppliers are now introducing their latest products to the market under the slogan “automation” after a significant increase in global energy and raw material prices for almost three years.

Labor shortages and shortage of skilled workers. For a long time, the general public will think that packaging printing is a traditional and noisy industry. In addition, packaging printing is often labeled as polluting and not environmentally friendly. However, the development of digital technology, especially AI, provides new possibilities for packaging and printing companies to solve the problem of labor shortage and attract more talents.

Let’s dive into the structural factors:

There has been a surge in demand for short-run printing. In the next few years, the market demand for short-run printing in the field of packaging printing will continue to grow. In the face of a changing market, end brands are launching increasingly diverse product portfolios, while sales forecasts are becoming more complex. As a result, “print on demand” is becoming the norm. In addition, short-term promotions and the need for packaging based on hot events are also contributing to this trend. Frequent changes in regulatory policies also require brands to constantly update their packaging information, and each change may require a new plate.

The role of packaging evolves. Today, packaging is no longer just about protection, but plays a vital role in attracting consumers, providing product information and optimizing the supply chain. Therefore, the application of innovative design, customized, and one-to-one QR codes in the packaging market is becoming more and more common. These new requirements make the packaging printing process more complex and varied, further shortening the lead time of packaging printing.

Creative design and miniaturization of packaging. Design is becoming increasingly important to both consumers and brands. Attractive packaging designs are beneficial for appealing consumers, while miniaturization reduces material consumption, environmental impact and costs. These trends require more frequent iterations of packaging design and high-performance equipment capable of producing more formats and formats.

New regulations, new policies. The new policy requires brands and retailers to be transparent about the composition and origin of their packaging, driving the need for environmentally friendly packaging materials and production equipment. Many of the world’s biggest brands must make a major commitment to the market – and the time frame is tight to make their packaging recyclable by 2025.

Environmental responsibility. As people become more concerned about the environmental impact of packaging, consumers are more inclined to choose paper packaging over plastic packaging. At the same time, some material suppliers have developed many new substrates that are easier to recycle. This change requires packaging manufacturers to add additional production processes that can handle environmentally friendly new materials, including coatings, coatings, and more, to produce packaging products with appropriate sealing and opening characteristics.

2. What is the future development trend of the packaging and printing industry?

From these contingencies and structural factors, it can be seen that the packaging and printing industry will face many major challenges and must become more flexible and adaptable. In this context, what are the future development trends of the packaging and printing industry? From this drupa printing exhibition, we can gain insight into the following major trends:

Automation and quality control. The growing trend towards automation has reduced the need for scarce and expensive skilled labor resources. At the same time, automation helps minimize errors and waste. Many suppliers introduce equipment equipped with quality control systems that can correct errors or stop production in real time. With the help of AI, these devices will be a major breakthrough, enabling machine operators to monitor multiple production devices at the same time.

Digitization. At present, the digital application in label printing is very popular in the world, but the digitalization process in folding cartons, corrugated cardboard and flexible packaging printing is relatively slow. According to data, by the end of 2022, more than 100 digital printing machines for corrugated cardboard packaging will be installed worldwide, which to a certain extent indicates the development trend of digital applications in this field.

The digital transformation of the packaging and printing industry is not only reflected in the printing process, but also includes post-press finishing and die-cutting. Although current digital solutions may not be able to achieve the efficiency of traditional production methods, they can significantly optimize the overall production process.

Digital technology and traditional technology go hand in hand. At this exhibition, we can see the rise of many hybrid solutions that combine the advantages of both production methods to maximize production efficiency. Many label and commercial printing companies have already experienced the benefits of the combination of the two.

Workflow management. It has become the nerve center of packaging manufacturers, optimizing the entire production process, from orders to prepress, printing, post-press, and logistics. Improve productivity and optimize resource allocation through data-driven processes. In addition, the development of AI technology will further enhance the capabilities of software tools, including preventive maintenance, etc. This trend requires management to be able to make timely and transformative decisions in the face of the digital wave, while at the same time requiring employees to continuously improve their ability to use data and information effectively.

Unmanned factories and new business models. Digitalization and automation are increasingly leading us to create factories managed by robots that operate day and night with minimal human intervention. At this exhibition, many well-known packaging equipment manufacturers said that they have invested in or acquired robot companies. In the next five years, factories that produce packaging in the form of “Industry 4.0” will become a reality, driving the industry to establish new business models.

New entrants and market consolidation. The development of the packaging printing market has provided new opportunities for many businesses in the commercial printing field. These businesses are highly proficient in digital printing, are adept at managing complex workflows, and improve profit margins. While they may not yet have the printing equipment needed for large-scale packaging production for the time being, their business focus will be on small batches and personalized orders. In addition, consolidation within the packaging and printing industry will continue to intensify, facilitating acquisitions and mergers.

All in all, the global packaging printing market has great potential, but opportunities and challenges coexist. pack