The real opportunity for digital print, aside from variable data, lies in short-run work typically less than 500 copies, says The Future of Digital Colour Printing Technology Forecasts to 2008.

Online ordering, the introduction of JDF, automated workflows, cost-effective low-volume production and niche applications for digital are the drivers behind growth.

The report also suggests that litho-based CTP and direct-imaging technologies will become more cost-effective by 2008.

For example, the breakeven point of the Heidelberg Speedmaster 52 with Xeroxs iGen3, described by Pira as the most leading-edge toner-based system on the market, will fall from 630 copies to 560 by 2008.

In a similar vein, the KBA Genius will drop from 580 to 490 and the 46 Karat DI from 520 to 410.

Pira expects that by 2008 colour toner digital presses will be able to output 600m2 an hour, or 160 A4 pages a minute, compared to the iGen3s current output of 470m2 an hour (100 A4 pages a minute).

It also expects ink-jet technologies to more than double production output, from current levels of 6,900m2 an hour, coupled with improvements in quality.

Possible growth sectors for digital include on-demand books, newspapers, wallpaper, ceramic tiles, textiles, packaging and security printing.

Pira has also suggested that traditional litho press manufacturers facing erosion in the small-format offset sector will have to establish partnerships with digital print engine developers to produce hybrid machines.

Story by John Davies