This week and next week are dedicated to the release of the content from Issue 4: The Technology Outlook Issue. This article provides an overview of what to expect over the next two weeks.
As everyone knew, 2024 was a Drupa year that always brings new technologies. And while there may not have been any truly revolutionary new developments introduced at the show (like digital printing, production inkjet or JDF), the evolutionary technologies and new products on display were just as impactful and are just as likely to change the industry over the next four years—or until the next Drupa.
The next big event is PRINTING United in September. In the interim between the two shows, the print edition – and this two-week list of stories from it – will look back at some of the key developments seen in Dusseldorf and look ahead to what to look out for in Las Vegas. We should point out right at the start that a large portion of the articles in this edition appeared in some form in the drupa daily newspaper, which we suspect was produced by WhatTheyThink. In addition to live coverage of specific product announcements, purchases or other news, we also had our staff write some general “analyst” articles that should serve as a guide to looking at different classes of equipment from a prospective buyer’s perspective: what the current situation looks like, what questions should you ask vendors, who are some of the key players, etc. These articles were designed to be valuable references for any printer attending a show looking to invest in a specific class of product. While these were written with drupa in mind, since the show our writers have added all the post-show updates. They are intended to serve as a guide for attending PRINTING United or other industry events – or even just for your own research. And since this is an edition of Technology Outlook, the focus is on the new technologies driving the new devices coming to market.
This issue is divided into nine “topics”:
- Labels and packaging
- sustainability
- Display graphics and textiles
- Industrial and specialty printing
- Digital and inkjet
- Offset
- Binding and finishing
- Software and workflow
In each topic section, our analysts examine some of the key trends and the technologies driving them.
Last week we also presented our complementary Technology Outlook Week of webinars. To view the archived sessions, please visit whattheythink.com/webinars or view the dedicated Technology Outlook page.
We will be publishing one story a day this week and next, across multiple topic categories.
Complementing the sustainability section, Pat McGrew spoke to Jonathan Graham, Marketing Director at Palamides, about preparing for sustainability regulations and the challenges of net zero solutions. Stay tuned for more on Monday, August 26.
This Friday’s online edition also includes the latest installment in our “Stories from the Database” series, this time looking at technology investment trends drawn from our historical database of Print Outlook surveys.
On Thursday, watch David Zwangsh chat with Mark Subers, president of exhibitions and events for the PRINTING United Alliance, about what to look forward to in Las Vegas next month.
Next Thursday, August 29, read Joanne Gore’s in-depth look at 10 technological developments that are transforming the printing industry.
For today’s edition, we’ve also put together a summary of some of the most important news from drupa.
And finally, on Friday, August 30, Johnson’s World rounds up some successful mail pieces that caught its attention.
So, without further ado, adieu and welcome to the new edition of Technology Outlook!
About WhatTheyThink
WhatTheyThink is the global print industry’s information source with print and digital offerings including WhatTheyThink.com, WhatTheyThink email newsletters and WhatTheyThink magazine. Our mission is to inform, educate and inspire the industry. We deliver in-depth news and analysis on trends, technologies, operations and events across all markets that make up today’s print and sign industry, including commercial, in-house, mailing, finishing, sign, display, textile, industrial, finishing, label, packaging, marketing technology, software and workflow.
