FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Flatbed Inkjets Thrive in Europe; Rest of the World Looks to Catch Up Sales of High-end Flatbed Inkjets to Reach 1,500 Units Worldwide in 2005, Accord

Boston, MA (October 20, 2003) — According to Web Consulting’s recent report, “Flatbed Inkjet Printing,” the worldwide opportunity for annual sales of medium and high-end flatbed inkjet printers could reach 1,500 units by 2005.

“The dynamics and opportunities for flatbed inkjet printers are fascinating,” said Michael Flippin, managing consultant for Web Consulting Inc, the Boston-based subsidiary of the UK-headquartered digital printing and imaging consultancy. “The early development thrust and has been mainly from new entrants to inkjet printing such as Zund, Durst and Inca, and is based upon new UV-curable inkjet ink technology, a core competence of ink companies such as Sericol, SunJet, Toyo, Avecia and Jetrion. In contrast, some of the established industry leaders in grand format (NUR, Scitex Vision and Vutek) and many wide format manufacturers find themselves as later market entrants, although they are now providing innovative and well-designed products of their own. There is also a fast-adopting and highly innovative population of print providers pulling through the demand of these machines. And much of that innovation today is found in Europe, which houses roughly 65% of the global installations to date, with more flatbeds installed in the UK alone than in the USA.”

It is not entirely surprising that European-based companies are the ones pushing flatbed inkjet printers. Many leading suppliers to the global screen and photo industries reside in Europe, and there is a greater need for more short-run printing in advertising and packaging in Europe because of the wide diversity in languages, combined with sophisticated economies. Additionally, leading ink companies from the screen and offset sectors, of which there are several in Europe, have been looking to break seriously into the inkjet printing market for many years, and flatbed inkjet has provided a springboard for them.

Because many of the leading manufacturers of flatbed inkjet printers are based in Europe, initial sales have been close to home. Only now are manufacturers from the rest of the world producing robust technology and innovative designs to enable them to redress the balance. Market growth will continue, as more manufacturers recognize the opportunities that flatbeds present to graphics screen printers and entirely novel applications, and new machines are introduced at lower price points ­ for example $150,000 as compared to the typical $500,000 price tags prevalent today. Growth today is also somewhat limited by the lack of flatbed manufacturing capacity. As short-run capabilities become more economically viable for production of rigid point-of-purchase materials, and the need for short run packaging and specialty decorative products develops, the market will take off. Point-of-Purchase has been the early catalyst for flatbed inkjet, but much future industry growth will come from products designed to fulfill a variety of new industrial applications.

Web Consulting’s “Flatbed Inkjet Printing” report discusses the above findings in more detail. The report provides a current and global strategic overview of the applications, market opportunities, ink and media issues, market segmentation and key manufacturer profiles in Europe, the Americas and Asia as they relate to flatbed inkjet printing.

Web Consulting

Founded in 1993, Web Consulting (www.webconsulting.co.uk) is a leading consultancy to the digital, screen-printing and imaging industries. The company provides primary market research, technology information, strategic analysis and supporting services such as implementation, training and project management. The company specializes in graphics, packaging, textiles and industrial applications for digital and analog printing and decoration. Global and regional manufacturers of machinery and consumables for the digital printing, screen-printing, sign making and photo industries rely on Web Consulting for strategic advice and analyses. In addition to its head office in Oxfordshire UK, Web Consulting has offices in Boston, MA and Shanghai, China and is further supported by a global network of consultants.

Web Consulting Ltd
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Phone: 1 781 837 1555
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Website URL: www.webconsulting.co.uk