The coming decade will see all industries grapple with the challenges of being more sustainable while the planet’s human population continues to grow and the global middle class, with discretionary spending power also burgeons. The COVID-19 pandemic has also brought about huge changes in the way businesses and individuals behave and operate which will have sustained impact over the coming decade.
This report identifies and analyses the key disruptive technologies that will impact print to 2031, based on interviews with key industry experts across the print value chain. Technologies are scored on the likelihood of their application in the forecast timeframe, and on their predicted market impact.
Among the 25 technologies discussed in the report, the top 10 disruptive technologies identified in this review are:
A Delphi-type study was used for this report comprising rounds of surveys, assessment and feedback. This process started off with extensive literature and patent research, data collection and discussions with industry experts to produce an extended initial list containing 50 items in general categories of potentially disruptive technologies – product innovation, process innovation, marketing innovation and organisational innovation – which could impact the print industry over the next ten years.
Who should buy this report?
Paul Ewing has over 20 years’ experience in the digital printing industry with ICI, Zeneca, Avecia and Fujifilm. He was VP of R&D and Business Strategy for Fujifilm Imaging Colorants, the speciality chemical arm of Fujifilm’s inkjet printing business. He has authored and co-authored several reports for Smithers, including The Future of Digital vs Offset Printing to 2024, and Impact Of Changing Run Lengths On The Printing Market.
This report identifies and analyses the key disruptive technologies that will impact print to 2031, based on interviews with key industry experts across the print value chain. Technologies are scored on the likelihood of their application in the forecast timeframe, and on their predicted market impact.
Among the 25 technologies discussed in the report, the top 10 disruptive technologies identified in this review are:
- Artificial intelligence
- Robotics/cobotics
- 5G
- Augmented reality
- Digital print for packaging
- Blockchain and other means of secure transaction
- Mono-materials in packaging
- Non-fossil fuel derived chemistries for inks, coatings and substrates
- 3D printing
- High coverage digital printing/coating technologies
- A definitive list of the top 25 most disruptive technologies to impact the print industry over the next 10 years. The report considers the potential trajectories of the print industry in light of these technologies
- Interviews were undertaken with key industry experts across the print value chain, including brand owners, printer OEMs, ink manufacturers, substrate producers, colorant and polymer producers, printhead suppliers and print technology venture capital investors.
- The key drivers for print innovation include: sustainability; socio-economic trends; the changing face of retail; productivity & connectivity and competition from electronic information distribution
- The underlying technology used to deliver a sustaining innovation may be incremental (a modest development of an existing technology), radical (delivering a large step forward in performance using new technology), or something intermediate between these. Sustaining innovations are important in developing the potential of a technology to address market needs.
A Delphi-type study was used for this report comprising rounds of surveys, assessment and feedback. This process started off with extensive literature and patent research, data collection and discussions with industry experts to produce an extended initial list containing 50 items in general categories of potentially disruptive technologies – product innovation, process innovation, marketing innovation and organisational innovation – which could impact the print industry over the next ten years.
Who should buy this report?
- Suppliers of raw materials
- Inks and consumables companies
- Equipment for print manufacturers
- Converters and users of print
Paul Ewing has over 20 years’ experience in the digital printing industry with ICI, Zeneca, Avecia and Fujifilm. He was VP of R&D and Business Strategy for Fujifilm Imaging Colorants, the speciality chemical arm of Fujifilm’s inkjet printing business. He has authored and co-authored several reports for Smithers, including The Future of Digital vs Offset Printing to 2024, and Impact Of Changing Run Lengths On The Printing Market.
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