Data Points: The U.S. Market for Flexography

Content Provided by PRIMIR

Packaging is a major print industry growth market, and flexo is among the fastest-growing printing technologies. The newly released PRIMIR “U.S. Market Trends for Flexographic Printing” research study, authored by Freedonia Custom Research, provides an understanding of where the market is today, and how brand owner, converter and application trends will impact the U.S. flexographic printing market in the future.

According to the PRIMIR study findings, flexography is well positioned for growth, with trends in both product run length and substrate usage favoring flexo over gravure and litho.

While digital printing continues to gain popularity, it remains competitive primarily in shorter runs.  In order to address future competition from digital, the flexographic industry must continue to innovate with an end goal of higher print quality and lower fixed costs.

Within the packaging segments, folding cartons are being replaced by flexible packaging and corrugated. Flexible packaging appeals to consumers’ preferences for convenience and portioning, while corrugated makes more sense for bulk purchases. These trends result in a shrinking market for folding cartons with the exception of premium folding cartons used for cosmetics, perfume, electronics and specialty food products, which help to stabilize the folding carton market.

The research also revealed an increasing desire in the marketplace to shift away from solvent-based inks and coatings; however, acceptable quality levels for brand owners remain a challenge in flexible packaging. Freedonia reported the likelihood that any technology that cost-effectively enables the use of solvent-free inks and coatings with acceptable quality levels will gain market acceptance.

Finally, while digital printing is positioned to compete with flexo in shorter runs, it also offers the potential for hybridization. Presses that work in tandem offer opportunities for flexography to further achieve needed printing requirements from brand owners.

The “U.S. Market Trends for Flexographic Printing” study thoroughly examines drivers and barriers for flexography, as well as technological advancements in presses, print quality, consumables, inks and substrates. The research focuses on corrugated, tag and label, folding carton and flexible packaging in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical and industrial (including agricultural) vertical markets in the U.S. It also investigates how and where flexo competes with digital, offset and gravure print processes.

For more information contact Rekha Ratnam, assistant director market data and research, by phone, 703-264-7200, or email rratnam@primir.org. Please visit www.primir.org for more information about this and other PRIMIR research.