Transparency Market Research has forecast packaging prepress revenues to grow 4 percent annually each of the next five years.
Revenues will approximate $5 billion at close of 2027, with flexography holding the largest and steady market share of 70 percent and the US dominating global sales activity, accounting for better than 30 percent. The findings come in Prepress for Packaging Market Insights, Trends & Growth Outlook.
Further details brought to light in the Albany, NY market intelligence firm’s briefing paper indicate that, “Adoption of flexographic printing is on the rise, and by the end of 2027, flexography is projected to attain a value of $3.6 billion.” Other demographics cited:
- Globally, the prepress for packaging market was valued at $3.9 billion in 2021, up from $3.8 billion in 2020, $3.6 billion in 2019 and $3.5 billion in 2018
- The US accounted for more than 30 percent of the global market share in the last three years, attributable to increasing technological developments in print and packaging industries in the region. It is anticipated to retain its top position till 2027 and is projected to witness a moderate compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during the forecast period
- China, India and other ASEAN countries represented the second-largest regional share in prepress for packaging, owing to increasing population that translates into strong demand for flexible packaging
- Europe is anticipated to witness sluggish growth in the global prepress for packaging market during the forecast period
Analysts reported, “Companies operating in the prepress for packaging market are leveraging flexographic printing’s benefits to solidify their foothold in the market”; but also observed, “Despite the dominance of flexographic printing, the digital printing segment is expected to witness the highest growth at a CAGR of around 4.4 percent over the stipulated timeframe.”
TMR’s team insisted, “Growing consumer affinity toward innovative and attractive packaging, coupled with advances in flexographic and digital printing, are leading factors driving the growth of the prepress for packaging market.”
Of particular note: “As technology continues to evolve, new printing techniques have increased demand for computer-generated layouts… Over the past decade, consumer interests toward packaging has increased at an exponential rate, which, in turn, has compelled brands to focus on the aesthetic aspects of their packaging designs.”
Here too, they singled out the significance of flexography’s impact. “The flexographic printing technique offers brands the flexibility of printing on an array of materials, including cellophane, metallic films, plastic and paper, among others. Further, this technique is increasingly being used to print large areas of solid color, particularly on packages in the food and beverage sector, as flexographic printing allows high-definition printing on roll stock or polybags. It improves clarity of the graphics on packages by a significant margin.”
TMR maintained, “The onset of innovative technologies, globalization and rapidly evolving consumer interests is prompting players operating in the prepress for the packaging sector to introduce solutions that focus on customization and sustainability.” That observation prompted this prediction: “Digital and flexographic printing are set to gain significant popularity over the forecast period, as these techniques are cost-effective, improve the supply chain and also play an important role in reducing waste.”
According to analysts, demand for flexible packaging solutions will present lucrative opportunities for market players. Elaborating on what lies ahead, TMR said:
- Modern prepress for packaging solutions offer better quality with flawless images and will remain beneficial in the long run, despite potential high installation costs
- Automated prepress for packaging workflow systems, incorporating a wide set of tools, will operate as intended and help users boost efficiency, lower costs and minimize the impact of human errors
- Automation engines that encompass all production steps—screening, trapping, imposition, color management, proofreading—will soon accommodate several functions that correspond to the complexity of end products, such as folding cartons and corrugated boxes
- Differentiating strategies adopted by prepress for packaging service providers will focus on ensuring color consistency across all devices
- Digital proofing and quality control checks are essential services offered in the prepress for packaging market, where they now account for more than 25 percent of the global market share. That pattern is expected to hold, if not gain ground
- Brand owners will target investment in color management and artwork services to obtain best printing results to attract customers, while working closely with service providers for full supply-chain solutions
- Service providers will accelerate acquisition and merger activities in order to expand their presence around the globe
