Printing industry going digital

MANILA, Philippines - The future of the printing and graphic arts trade will revolve around the idea of going fully digital using state-of-the-art manufacturing processes.

The big shift from analog to digital mode is a global reality and now is the time to do it in the country, Allan Hao Chin, president of Norde International Distributors, said in his welcome remarks during the two-day Digital Innovation Summit held Feb. 7 and 8 at the Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman, Quezon City.

He said the digital printing technology will be highlighted by efficient and expanded color management, personalization and customization of job orders, web-to-print software solutions, security printing, faster and shorter runs, perfect color registration and separation, and the emerging print-on-demand (POD) printing production.

Chin said summit host Norde International, the country’s exclusive distributor of higher-end industrial digital presses of Hewlett Packard, has vowed to bring in tomorrow’s digital technology after capturing 80 percent of the market in the sales of digital printing equipment and solution brands since the trading firm started operations in 2005.

Commercial printer James San Juan, owner of a Rizal-based The House Printers Corp., has decided to acquire the top of the line digital printer HP Indigo Press 5500 because, according to him, this printing machine has an offset look and feel but can deliver unmatched quality, higher levels of productivity and greater profitability with true photo quality and speed of production that is necessary for his customers’ increasing demands and his growing number of clients.