Robots and AI Will Revolutionize Printing Technology

 Industry research body Smithers says innovation to meet the urgent need for greater digitisation, sustainability, productivity and automation is critical for the printing industry to continue to grow through 2031.

"This need is especially urgent for a $760.6 billion global market," Smithers said. "Covid-19 has fundamentally reshaped much of the print industry landscape with the emergence of new business and buying models, as well as declines in many traditional media sectors."

Robots and AI will revolutionize printing technology

In its latest technology survey - A Decade of Disruptive Technologies in Printing - Smithers assesses the market potential of 23 innovations in the printing industry through 2031. This ranges from direct innovation applied to printing equipment, to broader technology and technology integration. Industry 4.0 concept.

The trends identified by Smithers experts are grouped into nine themes:

Printing process innovations will include the deployment of new high-viscosity inkjet systems, allowing printing of new substrates. There is also potential for offset inkjet printing, where graphics are jetted onto intermediate surfaces and dried before being applied to the final substrate. The commercialization of HP's LEPx technology will enable higher-speed electrophotographic (toner) printing. In simulation, higher automation will bring new efficiencies to flexo presses;

In market applications, the main driving force will be the development of digital systems for printing on packaging substrates (corrugated cardboard, folding cartons and flexible plastics) and the integration of digital finishing. Other opportunities in packaging and beyond will come from the wider use of inkjet in direct packaging and direct object oriented applications;

From a materials and chemical standpoint, presses require high-quality processing and printing on next-generation flexible paper, biopolymer and single-material plastic stock. For consumables, ink manufacturers are changing formulations to develop ink sets that contain more natural, sustainable ingredients;

In terms of workflow innovation - key opportunities will come from wider automation and digitisation of commercial and packaging printing workflows. This will leverage innovations in robotic handling and install first-generation collaborative worker robotic systems, or “cobots”;

Parallel development will deploy print-specific artificial intelligence (AI) software in print design, prepress and finishing;

With the wider rollout of 5G connectivity, and by the end of the decade of 6G networks, the increased digitization of print will be intensified at the same time. Other advances that could be exploited include commercial accessibility of quantum computing capabilities through the cloud;

Augmented reality (AR) platforms will also be used for B2B and B2C interactions. This includes better, more responsive technical and service support from OEMs; and new value-added printing options for consumers in education and advertising.

The Smithers report assesses the path to market for these technologies over the next decade and examines how they will disrupt traditional printing business models while creating new sales opportunities for OEMs, print service providers and their customers.