72 | Asia-Pacific market reviewChmielewska-Bontron. ‘Each has advantages and limitations, so we carefully evaluate each customer’s requirements before recommending which technology they should invest in. Mark Andy is in a unique position here, with a portfolio of fexo and digital hybrid presses that no other manufacturer can match. This puts us in a far better position to be objective with our recommendations and honest with our customers – we can supply whatever technology best suits their needs. If I would need to estimate the current split in our sales numbers, I’d say that fexo accounts for around 70 percent and digital hybrid around 30 percent of presses sold.’Talking about ratios, Thai KK believes digital printing products Domino opened a Digital Centre of Excellence in Bangkok, will have higher growth in percentage in the long run. Although, Thailand, to support regional sales, sampling and trainingthe company estimates the current balance is only at 10 percent digital, compared to traditional offset labeling, which is around 90 percent. The company predicts that digital printing will grow faster “Digital inkjet printing is gaining in the next fve years.momentum in the Asia-Pacifc for HP is also expecting all technologies to coexist in the market, noting that there is a shifted focus and investments in digital. label printing and for the increased ‘All the trends we discussed here motivate PSPs to redefne their strategy and long-term plans,’ says Arnon Goldman. ‘We are seeing use of variable data printing more interest in new business models and offerings largely enabled by digital and HP technologies, services and solutions.’ witnessed since the Covid-19 Sustainability goes beyond eco-friendly materialspandemic struck”Sustainability is on everyone’s agenda, and while before, it was ‘The digital sector is proving popular for smaller runs and niche mainly just a topic for debate in the APAC region, legislation is applications, offering cost benefts and fexibility over fexo. now being introduced to reduce the impact of packaging on the However, we don’t expect digital printing to make big inroads into environment. The region is proving its maturity when it comes to the core fexo print sector at this time as fexo is still proven to eco-friendly approaches. have its cost advantage for mid- to long-run jobs,’ responds Jane ‘People and companies who still see the Asia-Pacifc region as a Tan of PSG. ‘It’s higher quality in terms of the overall durability of dumping ground for inferior products will have diffculties fnding the ink, which supports a longer shelf-life, and is another advantage. clients, as the converters in the region are supplying high-end Furthermore, fexo can be used for add-on processes such as quality packaging and continuously improving conditions and the lamination or cold foiling, which are not supported by a digital quality of their output,’ says XSYS’s Roy Schoettle. ‘Sustainability press on its own.’ has become a key requirement for the packaging industry across Domino Digital Printing Solutions, which has been present in the board, with everyone from global brand owners to local startups the APAC market for over three decades, opened a Digital Centre making pledges to lower their impact on the planet.’of Excellence in Bangkok, Thailand, with its long-standing partner Sandon’s Jake Roberts thinks that sustainability may have been Harn Engineering Solutions, in June 2021. The facility has been less of a priority during the early stages of the pandemic as hygiene established to support regional sales, sampling and training. and safety rose in consumer concern, but now that the company ‘Digital inkjet printing is gaining momentum in the Asia-Pacifc operates at full strength, everyone is far more conscious of this for label printing and for the increased use of variable data printing when purchasing products, both in their professional and personal witnessed since the Covid-19 pandemic struck,’ comments Paul lives with sustainability requirements increasing at every step of Myatt, Domino Digital Printing Solutions’ APAC regional service the value chain. and support manager. ‘Domino is well-placed to serve this demand. ‘HP leads with sustainability, and the opportunity for it has We combine our global knowledge and expertise with the local expanded. Consumers, regulators, and brands are driving the change language capabilities and cultural awareness provided by our where consumer pressure and network of distributors and direct channels in India, China and social media supported by Korea to deliver personalized local service and support throughout focus and regulatory pressure the APAC region.’ drives bold moves from CPG and Roy Schoettle agrees that the install base of digital presses retailer,’ comments Arnon Goldman. is growing, but these technologies are still complementary ‘Print and packaging businesses can to fexography. become an integral part of the solution ‘Digital does play a role, however, particularly in the tag and label and offer a digital-frst mindset in market where we are seeing many printing companies investing manufacturing with reduced waste, in multiple technologies, but in other markets, such as fexible a lower carbon footprint, circularity packaging where high-speed printing and long job runs are required, commitments and new sustainable it is still not economically viable,’ he says. materials.’Luster’s Carrie Duan thinks that digital printing is undoubtedly The driver growing fast, along with many technological improvements. has been However, she expects to see the increasing popularity of hybrid initiated by printing machines.‘Flexo is and will be for some time the major technology in narrow web, and it is important that converters see the two as complementary, not as direct competitors,’ adds Mark Andy’s labelsandlabeling.com