Digital Offset Printing Plate Market

Market Overview

The global Digital Offset Printing Plate Market size is expected to grow at an 5.3% CAGR during the forecast period.

Digital offset printing is a sub-set of offset printers that manufacturers use to automate their process — streamline the setup and changeover process. Offset printing is one of the most common printing techniques. It has two characteristics, the printing ink is initially, transferred to a blanket and not directly to the printing substrate, and in the printing process, selective ink adsorption is achieved by opposite physical-chemical characteristics of printing and non-printing areas. Most of the printing plates are made of aluminum foil, which is chemically and electrochemically processed and coated with a photoactive coating to form a rough and porous aluminum-oxide film.

Market Dynamics

Development of Packaging and Textile Industries to Drive the Market Growth

The global packaging industry recorded a steady growth during the past decade. The growth can be attributed to improvements in the choice of substrates, the penetration of new markets, and the shifting nature of ownership. Increased use of plastics replacing other substrates to meet customer demand for comfort, the economic boom in China and other developing areas, greater restructuring of the market, and increasing private equity ownership including headline shift are expected to boost the digital offset printing plate market during the forecast period.

In the next five to ten years, five big developments, such as e-commerce, evolving customer expectations, FMCG and retail margin contraction, sustainability, digitalization, and the use of the Internet of Things, will change the game in the packaging industry and lift the standard for success.

Rising Demand for Digital Advertisements and E-Books to Hinder the Market Growth

With the advent of digitalization and social media, there has been a rise in digital advertisements and e-books. Most of the noticeable changes are recorded, specifically in the book publishing industry, with e-reader systems such as Kindles and iPads allowing users to keep their entire literature collection on one computer instead of needing a physical book library.

The increasing appeal of digital consumer goods is associated with the massive growth in the use of mobile devices. As a part of this pattern, many school students see their cell phones as key to their lives. The exponential technological advancements are anticipated to hinder the market growth during the forecast period. Thus, the increasing usage of mobile phones and the internet has led to the transition in the delivery of advertisements and can hamper the digital offset printing plate market.

Regional Analysis

Technological Advancements and Low-Cost Products to Boost the Asia-Pacific Market

Asia-Pacific caters to a maximum share in the digital offset printing plate market owing to the presence of China, one of the major revenue-generating regions. China and some of the other countries form a large production base thereby aiding in increasing its adoption. According to the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) – an initiative by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, in 2019-2020 the FDI equity inflow was valued at USD 49.97 billion. Additionally, as stated by the ministry of the Chinese Government, the FDI of China grew by 5.8% that is approximately USD 138.71 billion in the year 2019-2020.

The ability to produce low-cost and technologically advanced printing plates has bolstered the growth of the market. Also, the presence of top players such as Fujifilm, Strong State, Huafeng, Bocica, Ronsein, Xingraphics, Maxma Printing, Dongfang, FOP Group, and others to contribute to generating maximum market share, which in turn, bolsters the regional market growth.

Large Production Rates and Strong Suppliers to Accelerate the Europe Market

Europe is considered as the region with the second-highest market share owing to the large production rate along with a strong supplier side. Further, there has been a gradual increase in the value of the industrial goods sold in Europe from the year 2011 to 2018. Further, the increasing adoption of the latest technologies and the surge in the e-commerce platform has fortified the packaging industry thereby propelling the regional digital offset printing plate market.

Source: Eurostat

*Note: Analysis based on constant price ref. 2015

Segmental Analysis

By Type

• UV Coating
• Thermal
• Violet

In digital offset printing with UV coating printing plates, ultraviolet rays are exposed on the printing plates, while thermal printing plates use thermal energy for printing. Violet printing plates use violet rays for digital offset printing. The thermal printing plate is anticipated to cater to the maximum market share during the forecast period. The market dominance owes to tremendous use in commercial printers and features, such as low sensitivity to natural light, ability to control the predicted results, good dot reproducibility, high process stability. These factors are expected to bolster segmental growth.

By Application

• Books/Magazines
• Newspaper
• Packaging
• Others

Different types of digital offset printing plates are used for different applications. For instance, thermal digital offset printing plates are majorly used for packaging applications, while violet printing plates find applications primarily in the printing of newspapers, books, magazines, and commercial brochures, among others. Further, the multiple benefits of digital printing in this segment such as printing everything in one go without the need of changing plates allow the user to save time and cost. The ease of printing differential designs and logos while packaging can propel the market growth during the forecast period.

Impact of covid-19

With the COVID-19 pandemic, the digital offset printing plate market is expected to note a downturn in growth prospects. This can be attributed to lockdown-induced import-export restrictions, making domestic and cross-border trade difficult. Government-issued restrictions and norms emphasized only essential commodities, and as the offset printing services are not considered essential, operations in the sector have been disrupted, creating a pessimistic scenario for the packaging industry. The surge in digitalization during this period has affected the growth of the market. The COVID-19 outbreak has also affected the sales of physical products can also contribute to the market hindrance.

Recent Developments

• In 2019, Agfa introduces Eclipse, the most convenient process-free printing plate for sheet-fed commercial printers that combines all the benefits of process-free technology with effortless printing.
• In 2020, Agfa introduces a plate loading robot that streamlines and speeds up printers’ prepress operations, while reducing the overall cost.
• In 2020, Kodak announced a revolutionary new inkjet press and an enhanced portfolio of offset and digital solutions designed to delivers a good return on investment. The technology allows printers to increase profitability by making their traditional workflows more efficient while creating growth opportunities.