The worldwide continuous-feed, digital production print market is experiencing significant opportunity, thanks to a major technology shift.
According to new research from International Data Corporation (IDC), the much anticipated shift from electrophotography (EP) to high-speed inkjet (HSIJ) came to fruition in 2013, and will continue through the 2014-2018 forecast period.
Placements of both monochrome and colour EP equipment declined in the past year, while HSIJ installations continue on their growth path. IDC expect HSIJ to reach $1-billion in equipment sales by 2018 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10,8%.
By technology segment, IDC research finds the following worldwide engine unit placement changes from 2012 to 2013:
* Colour EP – -51,1%;
* Monochrome EO – -32,1%;
* HSIJ – +15%; and
* Total market – -22,1%.
Not only was HSIJ the only growth technology segment in the continuous feed production print market, but for the closely watched high-volume segments of 150+ ipm monochrome and HSIJ, HSIJ became the overall market share leader, achieving 54% of the placements.
While the crossover in placements occurred in 2013, HSIJ will grow to 75% of placements by 2018. HSIJ providers have appropriately focused on the high-volume segments of the continuous feed market where print volumes and corresponding supplies and service revenue are significant.
“A dramatic technology shift occurred in 2013 as high-speed inkjet maintained its momentum, while incumbent technologies declined,” says Andrew Gordon, research director: Production Output Solutions at IDC.
“There will continue to be opportunity for colour laser, which will hold a quality advantage for a while. However, high-speed inkjet vendors will make great strides toward improving print quality and substrate flexibility.”
Following the dramatic technology shift that occurred between 2012 and 2013, IDC predicts that the continuous feed equipment market will grow modestly at a CAGR of 2,4% through 2018. This will be fuelled almost entirely by HSIJ, which will grow at a 12,2% CAGR.
The traditional installed base of continuous feed devices is producing customer communications (bills, statements, notices, checks), direct mail, as well as bound documents such as manuals and books.
Each application category offers unique opportunities for HSIJ, from eliminating pre-printed forms, rightsizing equipment fleets, and accelerating outsourcing for customer communications, to reducing waste in the publishing supply chain by digitally printing smaller run lengths closely aligned to customer demand.
While the majority of HSIJ placements are going to the traditional markets, technology vendors are opening up new opportunities in publishing and commercial print. Considering the immense print volumes produced in these segments, aspirations to convert these volumes to digital print are driving business development activities.
This application diversification will accelerate as vendors find the right balance of operating costs, productivity, and print quality. The commercial print customers who may embrace HSIJ technologies are accustomed to acquiring printing presses that stay in operation 10 or more years. HSIJ vendor success may be impacted by their ability to protect a customer’s investment, with technology that is both scalable and extensible.
These vendors will need to deliver robust services and cultivate a long-term relationship with their customers. This has historically been the success model for analogue equipment vendors and should be embraced by HSIJ vendors.
IDC believes it is clear that a technology shift is well underway and HSIJ will become the dominant technology for traditional applications produced by the existing installed base of continuous feed printers. There will continue to be opportunities for EP colour technologies where print quality and substrate flexibility is paramount.
As a result, a gold rush is occurring as many new entrants are vying for the new HSIJ opportunity. While both the digital print and analogue press vendors will seek to defend their base, each will seek to grow through capturing print volume.
The competitive pressures will intensify and raise the question of when, or if, a technology shift will occur between higher volume analogue print and digital. For this reason, most vendors feel compelled to have an HSIJ offering.
Based on IDC’s historical data for continuous feed printers as well as current adoption projections, IDC believes there are too many offerings in the market, and it predicts that a looming vendor shakeout is on the horizon as the market begins picking inkjet winners.