The packaging business is going through a major transformation as clients look for more flexibility, faster turnaround times and the ability to produce small quantities with no compromise to quality, says Wikus Conradie, Production Print Specialist at Nashua.
This shift is creating exciting opportunities for print shops to grow revenues by expanding their offering beyond traditional print applications.
The emergence of lower-cost packaging and finishing technologies is the major factor that is reshaping the commercial print and packaging market. Digital cutting solutions make it increasingly viable for commercial print stores and in-house production teams to produce short-run packaging quickly and cost-effectively.
Digital finishing technology helps streamline production by eliminating the need for physical dies, reducing manual processes and enabling quick design changes between jobs. This allows print providers to reduce turnaround times, switch between jobs more efficiently and respond more quickly to production requirements.
By contrast, producing custom packaging in the past often required large production runs to justify the cost of physical dies and outsourced finishing processes. This created barriers for businesses that needed smaller quantities or frequent design changes. Most organisations were forced to choose between affordability and flexibility.
Meeting the Needs of Emerging Brands
Recent advances in digital finishing technology have made short-run production more accessible. Businesses can now produce packaging, labels, signage and display materials in smaller quantities, making it easier to accommodate design changes, produce prototypes and deliver customised applications without the constraints of large production runs.
This opens the door to new revenue streams from applications such as product prototypes and mock-ups, short-run folding cartons and packaging, custom labels and stickers, seasonal and promotional packaging, point-of-sale signage and displays, personalised campaigns and limited-edition products.
There is especially strong demand for short-run packaging among smaller and growing brands. Craft beverage producers, artisan food manufacturers, coffee roasters, health and wellness brands, and e-commerce businesses often require high-quality packaging without the volume commitments associated with traditional production methods.
The ability to produce smaller quantities enables these businesses to test new products, launch seasonal campaigns and adapt packaging designs without carrying excess stock. In many industries, speed is a competitive advantage.
Shorter lead times give companies an edge whether producing packaging for a product launch, creating samples for client approval or preparing materials for an upcoming event.
A New Era for Commercial Print and Packaging
The convergence of digital print and digital finishing is changing the markets that print providers can serve and the solutions they can offer. Quality finishes and customisation options that were once out of reach for smaller brands are now more accessible, while turnaround speeds have dramatically improved.
For print providers, the shift is a chance to move up the value chain and deliver more personalised solutions that traditional production methods simply could not support. As customer expectations rise and product lifecycles shorten, the ability to produce high-quality packaging at any quantity will be a key differentiator.
For more information, visit www.nashua.co.za. You can also follow Nashua on Facebook, LinkedIn, or on Instagram.
*Image courtesy of contributor