Smithers’ The Future of Package Printing to 2027 forecasts the volume of labels stocks – along with corrugated board, folding cartons, rigid and flexible plastics and metal - printed worldwide will increase from 13.0 trillion to 15.4 trillion A4 print equivalents between 2021 and 2027.
The global digital printing market size to rise from $39.63 billion in 2023 to $87.21 billion by 2030, with the packaging and label segment set to record the highest CAGR.
The Benefits of Digital Label Production
Digital label printing offers numerous advantages over traditional print production including:
- Flexibility and Customization: Quick changes and customization are enabled without the need for new plates or tooling. This is ideal for short runs, seasonal, luxury products, or personalized labels.
- Cost-Effectiveness: It is more cost-effective, especially for smaller quantities because it eliminates the setup costs associated with traditional production processes.
- Speed to Market: the production process is accelerated, enabling faster turnaround times and quicker delivery to market.
- High Quality: With advancements in digital technology, the quality is now on par with traditional methods, providing vibrant colours and sharp details on a wide range of label materials.
- Sustainability: Waste is reduced and the process results in lower ink and material consumption.
As a result operations are continuing to invest in digital technology – so much so that investment in the technology will overtake analogue printing solutions for the first time in 2026 reports Smithers’ The Future of Global Print Equipment Markets to 2028.
This outlook was confirmed by respondents in Keypoint Intelligence’s State of the Industry Report: Narrow Web Labels. They expected their installed base of digital printers to increase 51% through to 2027, while the output of volume produced on their digital assets is projected to increase 68% at the same time.
How to stand out in labels
In this growthful sector there is increasing interest in ways to add value to product labels. To make them stand out. To make them attention grabbing.
Among them are personalization and late-stage customization. In fact, they were fourth and fifth respectively in Finat’s Radar which listed the most important drivers for brands sourcing digital labelling for their products.
Greater creativity, a luxury look and feel and an impressive wow factor can today be added with digital embellishment to elevate label design.
The drinks industry is one sector that is anticipating an upsurge in digital production and embellishment with a tactile varnish, gloss finish, metallic inks and metallic foils. We touched on that here. And with Smithers reporting that alcoholic drinks are the largest end use for labels, by volume, with nearly 30% of market share in 2023, it offers the greatest opportunity.
Digital embellishment experience
Embellishments such as foiling, embossing, and spot varnishes add a tactile, eye-catching and high-end appeal to the label surface, enhancing the overall consumer experience. They can help enhance
- Brand Differentiation: Unique finishes and textures help products stand out on the shelf, making them more attractive to potential buyers.
- Perceived Value: High-quality embellishments can elevate the perceived value of a product, justifying a higher price point.
- Consumer Engagement: Tactile elements encourage customers to pick up and interact with the product, increasing the likelihood of purchase.
- Protection: Certain embellishments, such as UV varnishes, can also provide an extra layer of protection for the label, ensuring it remains intact throughout the product's lifecycle. This can reduce the need for additional lamination.
Captivating labels capture sales
Label embellishments offer something extra – they stimulate more of our senses often without us realising. Our gut feeling registers when something feels "right" intuitively and our brain's pilot rationalises the decision that has already been made unconsciously. Very few buying decisions are based on conscious reflection. Consumers are frequently under time pressure, the choice is almost always too large and most information cannot be consciously received and processed quickly enough to make a rational decision. This is where the importance of the power of persuasion through print comes into play.
Creative and well executed print also helps score well with the five ARIVA advertising impact dimensions:
- Attention- if people are aware of what a brand is offering, this has a direct positive influence on their decision to buy.
- Recall - once the brand and its associated meanings have been anchored in the memory's network of knowledge, this stored information can be easily accessed.
- Integrity - people only buy things that they trust, at least unconsciously.
- Value – people value real objects that they can touch and hold.
- Action - encouraging people to act and buy is the ultimate goal and the longer a product draws our attention, the more likely we are to buy it.
When digital label printing is combined with digital embellishment, the result is a product that not only looks stunning but also meets the high standards of modern customers. This combination offers the best of both worlds: the flexibility and efficiency of digital printing with the premium finish of traditional tactile feel luxury labels. It also eliminates the need for a separate cold foil application.
Label technology
To achieve this, a variety of technologies are available. They include printing in an extensive range of colours with Konica Minolta’s AccurioLabel systems and a variety of finishing options with MGI's JETVARNISH systems. The latter delivers hot foil stamping and UV selective varnish.
The Flux Label Impose software tool manages a number of important processes from preflight checks of PDF files to avoid printing problems the simple, the addition of and straightforward processing of variable data content, to the automatic creation of label repetitions, adding standard and custom eye marks and arranging artwork. This comprehensive packaging workflow seamlessly integrates digital printing and digital embellishment.
Newly added fifth colour station capabilities with fifth toner allows printers to see the potential to create the no label look, colourful and shimmering effects on metallic substrates, and highly impactful designs.
Sustainable approach
Digital production and finishing technology also offer sustainable, environmentally friendly and safe production methods for users and consumers alike. Compared to conventional technology, Konica Minolta's solutions produce with significantly reduced energy consumption, lower CO2 emissions and do not require an imagesetter so there is no need for printing plates. The machines are resource efficient in terms of chemicals, materials and paper waste, and they avoid contributing to the ozone layer as far as possible. After printing, a deinking process is carried out to remove any ink, toner or new generations of paints and films from the paper so that it can be recycled.
Captivating Combination
Combining digital label printing and embellishment offers a powerful toolset for brands looking to enhance their packaging. The flexibility, speed, and quality of digital production, combined with the premium finishes of embellished labels, create results that captivate consumers and drive sales. With Konica Minolta's integrated workflow, businesses can streamline their production processes, reduce costs, and deliver exceptional results.
As the market continues to grow, now is the perfect time to explore the possibilities of combining label printing and embellishment. By staying ahead of the curve, brands can ensure a wide range of products stand out in a crowded marketplace, driving both engagement and profitability.