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In advance of his educational session at FuturePrint Tech Valencia on April 2-3, our very own Jeff Wettersten guested on the FuturePrint Podcast to discuss challenges and opportunities in digital printing for packaging. While digital printing currently makes up less than 1% of total packaging output, he says, this statistic can be misleading due to the sheer scale of the industry. Labels have seen the highest adoption (around 12%), while corrugated, folding cartons, and flexible packaging are still catching up. One of the biggest barriers to adoption has been cost and workflow complexity (rather than print quality).
Beyond cost considerations, digital printing is changing the way brands approach packaging. In industries like diapers—where frequent design changes and retailer-specific versions are common—digital printing enables faster turnarounds, reduced inventory costs, and greater flexibility. As artificial intelligence (AI) and big data continue to drive real-time consumer insights, packaging production needs to keep pace, making digital an increasingly attractive option. Industry consolidation, sustainability initiatives, and the demand for greater agility are also shaping the future of digital print. Companies that embrace these shifts early are already seeing significant benefits, from reduced lead times to improved profitability.
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