What’s ahead for offset printing?

Offset printing is not going to just fall off the edge anytime soon. But for the foreseeable future and as long as printed material is necessary, and it always will be, the paying customer will continue to have choices when deciding which technology offers the best solution for their printing needs. Obviously cost to produce coupled with quality and the ability to quickly deliver product to the market will be tested more as we move forward in the digital printing age.

The growth of digital printing has been nothing less than phenomenal since the turn of the 21^st century. But setting that aside, other factors have lent themselves to the popularity of digital printing.

1. In the offset printing industry, toxic solvents must be used for a variety of reasons. The use of isopropyl alcohol is used to basically make water “wetter” this helps maintain the constant separation of inks from bleeding outside the allowable printing image on the printing plate. Anyone that has ever run offset presses will easily smell the fumes as they are near the print towers, adding ink or making adjustments to ink flow. In the case of digital printing equipment, ink is contained and solvents are not required. With offset printing presses, gloves must be worn as ink build up from paper stock residue must be removed using solvents called blanket wash. Depending on the quality of stock, there are occasions where a blanket will require cleaning every 15-20 minutes. This solvent is toxic to humans and must be handled with care as it is flammable. Again, no toxic chemicals are required with digital printing equipment because there are no blankets to squeeze a printed impression onto.

2. Digital printing turns its efficient eye toward “being green” but really it’s just natural. The very nature of digital printing is to save waste in all areas. Print on demand has resolved the problems of overcrowded storage facilities. In the past, printed materials and outdated inventory were taken to dumpsites. Paper waste and used toxic chemicals had to be properly disposed of. Today, more than ever, we are to be responsible and diligent in our efforts to keep the environment clean, thereby making the world a safer place to live.

Offset printing is under the gun and entrapped in an industrial environment that requires old fashioned manufacturing methods to survive. However it will continue to survive for decades, but will eventually succumb to newer and greater technologies born out of the digital printing age.