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You are well known as a specialist in strategic analysis of the digital printing business since the start of professional technology for higher print runs. How would you assess the development of digital from the first systems, such as Indigo machines (sold in double packages in the early 90s) and Chromapress-Systems, through to today’s Xerox iGen4, HP Indigo-Systems, Kodak Nexpress, Xeikon machines and Canon etc?
It took several years for the early digital colour printers to meet their promise. From 1993 to 2000, growth was slow – but after 2000, the machines, market, and applications matured and growth has been extraordinary.
The industry has made significant progress in digital colour printing from its introduction in 1993. Speed, size, capability and quality have increased markedly, and digital printing now represents about 15 per cent of all printing carried out around the world (mostly toner and inkjet). With digital machines getting faster, more efficient and delivering ever-higher quality, we expect to see even more digital printers by 2012 and digital printing volume to continue growing accordingly.
After selling the Nexpress business, Heidelberg is once again looking for a digital printing partner. How would you comment on this?
Heidelberg had a partner in Kodak and they built probably the best digital printing machine in the industry – the Nexpress. The company lost the Nexpress because of stockholder actions. I am certain they understand that they must play a role in digital printing. I think they should re-adopt the Nexpress and also partner with other systems suppliers. I predict that Heidelberg will be a force in digital printing.
“I predict that Heidelberg will be a force in digital printing.”
Frank Romano
Offset systems
Could this be a sign that in the future digital printing will replace offset printing in certain segments? And what would you recommend for the other offset machine manufacturers?
I am old enough to remember the conversion from letterpress to offset litho in the 1970s. It happened quickly and comprehensively. That will not happen again. Offset will lose volume but will not die. It will retain 30 to 40 percent of its pre-digital printing volume until 2020, when digital printing will overtake offset performance. Printers with both offset and digital will be the most successful.
Heidelberg also has the inkjet-offset system, Linopress, which is designed for other markets than graphic art printing. Could the offset-inkjet combination be a possible technology for the future?
Linopress has interesting packaging and industrial printing applications. Linking inkjet to offset has already been done with inkjet addressing and messaging offset products at the finishing and addressing stages.
The latest big deal in our industry was the 1.5 billion Euro acquisition of Océ by Canon. How will this affect the digital printing market?
The Canon-Océ merger is good for both companies. Together they are large enough to provide more solutions for customers. Océ is a powerhouse in wide-format and high-end roll-fed production printing. Canon has excellent sheetfed printers and a very large patent base in toner and inkjet. I belive that in the long term this makes sense and is good for the industry.
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