A recent analysis of the US Xplor user group confirms this. Most of Xplor's approximately 5,000 member companies use the latest technology (digital printing and the Internet). This is the so-called "e-commerce needs e-print."
Interestingly, according to the manufacturer's sales of digital digital printing and traditional printing such as offset printing, great growth rates have been reported, which may be surprising from the above. An analysis by Charles A. Pesko, like Cap Venture in the United States, predicts that the global black and white digital press market will triple by 180 billion U.S. dollars by 2002 and increase to 25 billion U.S. dollars by 2005. In contrast, the market for color digital printing systems remains relatively small (less than 500 million in 1999), but it is expected to quickly increase to several billion dollars due to the launch of new products at the Drupa 2000 exhibition.
In 1999, traditional printer manufacturers reported a significant increase in orders (+6%), with global sales of approximately $12.5 billion. This contributes to special printing processes such as flexographic and packaging printing, post-press processing, in particular consumables and printed materials. FAO predicts that per capita paper consumption will increase by 3% per year by 2010, and printed paper will account for a significant portion of this. With co-existence and growth, the strategies adopted by press manufacturers can be divided into two main areas:
1. Optimize existing printing processes by automating and creating continuous workflows, including computer-to-plate CtPlate and computer-to-plate CtPress.
2. Develop new digital printing processes for professional applications (such as inkjet printing, printing methods using toner and electrographic imaging).
The former aims to replicate information faster, better, and higher quality for high-volume products, while the latter aims to meet the needs of small, flexible, on-demand printed products. As for the question of which company must now choose which one, or whether it is possible to combine the two, the printing plant is making its own decisions rather than the printer manufacturer.
At drupa 2000, suppliers will provide complete solutions instead of just displaying new products. Most European printing industry professionals will focus on identifying future customers and their requirements, predicting which products and services are required by customers, rather than receiving new technologies and new products to be released at the show. Exhibitors who can provide information in this area and stimulate customer interest will no doubt be welcomed. If the printing industry can develop a reasonable future development strategy for their customers, then both parties will benefit from this. Outlook: E-paper, e-books, and e-commerce are the latest trendsetters in the United States. The e-age is a phenomenon that is more talked about. It is dominated by the competition of all commercial operations on the World Wide Web and the Internet. "E-way" has become a familiar statement. The same trend is evident in Europe. Internet service provider AOL’s acquisition of Time Warner, the world’s largest media group, is a manifestation of the strength of the electronic economy, and at the same time, it also proves the mistakes of critics. E-commerce and the Internet are not new at once. They are new economic pacemakers.
Printing companies will benefit from the "electronic" boom because their core business is to work on copying media and information. These companies always use the latest technology. New applications and innovative communication channels are now emerging based on digitization. Information technology, such as digital imaging material that can be erased and rewritten called electronic paper, is making great breakthroughs.
The initial prototype will introduce tangible products in 5 to 10 years. In the future, the choice of books will include e-books, which can record information very quickly. Data materials contained in e-books can contain hundreds of thousands of ordinary books, and can be updated and supplemented via the Internet. In the printing industry, there are services that link printing services with new media technologies, and providers have excellent prospects.