The digital market, which is expected to be worth around $2.4bn this year, will increase thanks to a range of catalysts such as a growing demand for shorter-runs and personalised jobs, the study by Pira International found.

In The Future of Digital Printing for Packaging research, Pira identified an increased migration to on-demand printing, as well as companies' waste initiatives, as drivers for growth.

One example that exemplifies this growth is Shoreham-by-Sea-based printer Marsh Labels, which recently invested in a HP Indigo press ws4050 in response to a growing demand for short-run work.

Director Gary Burnley said that clients were increasingly demanding their own intricate designs on labels and in lower volumes.

"Gone are the days where a few spot colours would have worked. Customers now require more complex four-colour designs and in shorter runs," he added.

The Pira study also claimed that investing in digital print technology enabled printers to become "print service providers" and expand their range of services away from more traditional operations.

The report identified that, while flexible packaging options will grow, this could come at the expense of folding cartons, which it claimed has experienced a slowdown in recent years.

The Future of Digital Printing for Packaging is available now from Stephen Hill on +44 (0) 1372 802025.