Page 45 - Packaging News Magazine Jan-Feb 21

January-February 2021 | www.packagingnews.com.au | PACKAGING PRINT
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Digital packaging: From
the Flintstones to the Jetsons
In the world of packaging print, the digital transformation is game-changing, and for Kissel + Wolf, optimism around digital’s growth is high. The company is well positioned to capitalise on the single-pass corrugated board packaging market.
DAN Schulman, PayPal’s presi- dent and CEO, is often cited for his comment on the effects of digital technology and its transformation the world over in just a matter of years: “We went from the Flintstones to
the Jetsons in nine months.”
This rings true in packaging print too, where digital advances are rapidly creating increased scope for creativity, productivity and
sustainability.
“Digital technology’s primary aim
should be about creating and maxi- mising value for your customers,” says Jon Field, Kissel + Wolf sales and business development director – digi- tal. “It’s also about simultaneously being able to address new business verticals, increasing your productiv- ity and today, more than ever, doing so in a sustainable and environmen- tally friendly way while creating a strategic competitive advantage over your competition,” Field says.
“Many people in the packaging industry wouldn’t know just how well Kissel + Wolf is positioned to capitalise on the single-pass corru- gated board packaging market,” he says. “With a wealth of experience and having not long ago celebrated our 125th year anniversary since inception, we have a mature yet
innovative approach to doing busi- ness across the printing and packag- ing industries the world over.
“Constant innovation, a strong ser- vice and support ethic and a cus- tomer centric focus to everything we do, has enabled us to emerge as one of the pre-eminent suppliers of mar- ket-leading equipment, consumables and services to the printing and pack- aging industries and we will con- tinue to push the boundaries. That is why we place such an emphasis on the digital vertical within Kissel + Wolf and we are tremendously opti- mistic about the future and its ability to contribute strongly to the group.”
Field goes on to say the data sur- rounding the growth in the value and size of the markets that the company’s digital products portfolio caters for, supports Kissel + Wolf’s optimism.
“As evidence we experienced impressive growth in our digital busi- ness throughout 2020, namely from our direct to garment (DTG) Kornit digital printing solutions with multi- ple installations across multiple states, despite the downturn in the economy due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Now with the value of digital pack- aging set to soar over the next five years by a whopping 13.1 per cent CAGR and the value of the world inkjet market set to rise by 9.4 per cent, further analysis
ABOVE: Poised for growth: Catering for short runs, Kissel + Wolf’s corrugated digital solutions also offer customisation and personalisation of printed products.
and segmentation of our own digital portfolio points towards the future growth of the digital packaging market being as strong as the DTG market, if not stronger. In particular, we see growth in high-speed industrial ink jet digital printing solutions for corru- gated board markets.”
Field said as the worldwide print market transforms, shifts in buyer demands, namely short-run custom- ised and personalised products with higher quality, align with the capa- bilities of inkjet.
“We have no doubt that in five years’ time inkjet will grow by deep- ening its penetration into existing markets, and by offering our custom- ers new and emerging market oppor- tunities,” he said.
“For manufacturers of corrugated board and packaging it will enable you to provide your customers with greater levels of service and effi- ciency through our digital ink jet technology by getting products to market faster and with more flexibil- ity around SKUs. Additionally, our corrugated digital print solutions cater for shorter print runs, while offering customisation and person- alisation of printed products, which enables brands to align their pack- aged products with their target mar- kets,” Field says. ■