We apologise for not being able to provide a thorough snapshot of the state of the continuous feed digital printing sector, now almost synonymous with inkjet printing. This news has already been delayed for a year and we will not be able to provide this service for another 12 months. This is because Hunkeler Innovation Days, the Mecca for any printer interested in high volume digital printing for two decades, has again been postponed because of Covid.
It is difficult to gauge the impact of this decision on investments and choices that printers, and not only transactional and book printers, have to make for their futures. At the last HID in 2019, at least one commercial printer was casting an eye over the technology before coming to a decision for his business. Three years on, more need to come to a decision. And a view about inkjet printing is a crucial consideration. It is all the more important because plate prices are shooting upwards because of aluminium costs, and this may change calculations in favour of digital.
Then there is the place of automation to consider, substrates to understand and of course finishing led by Hunkeler itself to appreciate. This can take in dozens of hours via Teams, days of visits to still awkward to reach locations. Or a couple of days at a highly focused event like HID. There have been debates about the future viability, the value and appeal of exhibitions post pandemic. The debate should not apply here, other than to suggest that HID should be the model for print events that have appeal.
Hunkered down for Hunkeler
We apologise for not being able to provide a thorough snapshot of the state of the continuous feed digital printing sector, now almost synonymous with inkjet printing. This news has already been delayed for a year and we will not be able to provide this service for another 12 months. This is because Hunkeler Innovation Days, the Mecca for any printer interested in high volume digital printing for two decades, has again been postponed because of Covid.
It is difficult to gauge the impact of this decision on investments and choices that printers, and not only transactional and book printers, have to make for their futures. At the last HID in 2019, at least one commercial printer was casting an eye over the technology before coming to a decision for his business. Three years on, more need to come to a decision. And a view about inkjet printing is a crucial consideration. It is all the more important because plate prices are shooting upwards because of aluminium costs, and this may change calculations in favour of digital.
Then there is the place of automation to consider, substrates to understand and of course finishing led by Hunkeler itself to appreciate. This can take in dozens of hours via Teams, days of visits to still awkward to reach locations. Or a couple of days at a highly focused event like HID. There have been debates about the future viability, the value and appeal of exhibitions post pandemic. The debate should not apply here, other than to suggest that HID should be the model for print events that have appeal.
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