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For more information, join Ralf Schölzer as he reviews the project objectives, defines the study methodology, and reveals some of the most important findings in our exclusive InfoCast.

Introduction

High-speed and high resolution color continuous feed inkjet devices have created a new opportunity for digital color print. Though the production digital print market has been built upon toner-based devices, that fact of life is changing. The long-established dominance of toner will be reduced over the coming years. With production color inkjet growing, color inkjet devices will account for more than a third of digital color pages by 2014. These devices are much faster than toner-based technologies. Toner-based technologies are capable of very high quality levels, but they are approaching their speed limit while inkjet technologies have the potential to go reach new heights of productivity while quality levels are rising. Impressions are expected to increase by more than 40% year-on-year for the next five years.

The move to high-speed inkjet color is, in part, related to print technology advances that allow high-speed color printing at decent quality levels to combine with strong cost metrics. Yet supporting software, workflow, substrates, and finishing systems are also enabling this revolution. 

To gain insight into what is happening with leading edge users, InfoTrends conducted a multi-client study entitled “The High-speed Continuous-feed Color Inkjet Opportunity: Global Insights from Leading Customers”. This study aims to identify the opportunity for the continuous color inkjet market and will include growth projection through 2015.

Project Objectives

Through this research, InfoTrends provides information surrounding:

• Overview of usage of high speed continuous feed color inkjet equipment.
• Volume shares of print applications produced currently on high speed inkjet color printers. An outlook on emerging applications targeted now and future applications users would like to target with next generation inkjet devices.
• Requirements for future inkjet printing systems and stumbling blocks for a more widespread use of continuous feed inkjet, including interest on cut-sheet options, importance of deinkability.
• An overview of the prepress set-up used, including workflow and data formats. The importance of vendors workflow offerings on choosing a printer will be explored and the status and importance of integrating the inkjet workflow into the workflow for other output devices.
• Requirements and preferences for finishing & mailroom solutions, including preferences for on-line and off-line finishing, needs for compatibility on existing finishing equipment, preferences on web widths.
• Types and shares of paper grades being used today and future requirements on paper grades. Current issues with paper in color inkjet in terms of pricing, availability runnability, finishing performance. Criteria for paper selection and stakeholders in the decision. Preferred channels for paper buying.
• Complementing insight from users of high speed color toner equipment and custom integrated color inkjet-heads and details on why those print service providers choose a differing approach.
• Economical drivers for choosing high speed color devices, including main areas of profitability, savings achieved in labour, preprint, waste reduction, views in achievable ROI.
• SWOT analysis of the technology and the applications.
• Overview on the size of the inkjet color continuous feed market and growth opportunities.
• Comparison of the results and highlighting of differences between geographies and customers types.
  

Analysis & Project Deliverables

InfoTrends’ professional staff performed an extensive analysis of one-on-one interviews to develop an understanding of the opportunities and issues surrounding high speed continuous feed color inkjet equipment in Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific. Subscribers will receive a combination of documents, including a report; PowerPoint slides; and research data for senior managers, product managers/planners, and sales/marketing executives. The materials will include:

The Case Study Compendium - This report provides details of the interviews in form of case studies and additional analysis from InfoTrends

An Excel Overview - Excel table based on the interviews of the case study compendium. It allows an overview selection with company classifications, basic features on installtion & usage and any numeric input

Presentation - This PowerPoint presentation contains bullet points of the results, research highlights, pie charts, and analysis of the survey

Further Insight - A one hour conference call discussing the results and the option for inquiries on the study’s content

Getting Started

For more information on the study, contact Scott Phinney at +1 781 616 2123 or via
e-mail atscott_phinney@infotrends.com.