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In the coming years, as the costs of equipment and consumables decrease due to mass production and technological advancement, digital offset printing is set to become a key player in hybrid printing. This evolution is driven by the growing importance of print as a commercial marketing tool, even as electronic media gradually replaces traditional paper-based information dissemination.
Hybrid printing is becoming a vital cross-media strategy, enabling seamless integration between digital and traditional methods. It not only serves as a powerful marketing platform but also represents an emerging direction that many industry players are focusing on. Where is this hybrid approach heading?
Historically, electrostatic imaging digital presses faced challenges such as quality issues, limited spot color capabilities, and high costs, which hindered their widespread adoption. However, the rise of inkjet technology has introduced a new vision: combining mature traditional printing machinery with digital inkjet nozzles, along with advanced front-end digital printing systems and back-end finishing equipment. This creates a new hybrid printing model. As costs continue to drop and technology matures, digital offset printing will become more accessible in the hybrid printing sector.
The concept of hybrid printing goes beyond just a technical method—it also reshapes thinking at every level. At the equipment level, for example, integrating paper handling, motor drives, and digital printheads with traditional offset systems results in a powerful combination of productivity and digital flexibility. Komori has been developing this approach for years, with commercial products expected to be showcased at events like IGAS 2015 and drupa 2016. Another approach involves adding variable data to offset presses using digital nozzles, though this still follows older hybrid techniques.
At the process level, achieving color consistency between digital and offset printing is crucial. Komori’s KCS color management software ensures this harmony, allowing documents to be distributed digitally or printed via offset based on cost and delivery time. The system supports third-party pre-press processes, enabling sampling on digital presses and full-scale printing on offset machines. Large orders can be automatically assigned to the most suitable device.
Looking ahead, hybrid printing is evolving into a fully integrated system. Digital and offset printing stages are being combined, with finishing processes becoming more automated. Innovations like digital UV, laser die-cutting, and indentation are already emerging, and in the future, they could be linked to Komori’s inkjet digital offset system to create fully automated hybrid production lines.
On the marketing side, Komori’s wide range of printing solutions—web, sheetfed, and banknote—allows for low-cost color printing, while its electrostatic imaging digital press enables variable data printing in both color and black-and-white. Third-party variable data software helps meet diverse customer needs. A promising area lies in combining hybrid printing with printed electronics, expanding its applications and redefining its boundaries.
Looking forward, hybrid printing is moving toward greater integration of equipment and processes. With the growth of IoT, traceability systems, and smart codes, traditional printing is merging with digital variable data. This trend will make hybrid printing more automated, with pre-press and post-press increasingly integrated, enabling personalized information across various industries.
E-commerce is shifting production from estimated to on-demand models, making on-demand publishing and printing more feasible. Functional printing, such as packaging, is also becoming part of industrial production. Hybrid printing will need to be flexible, playing a closer role in product manufacturing.
Finally, hybrid printing is advancing into inkjet digital offset, now capable of printing on diverse substrates like glass, ceramics, and metal. It has become a critical part of industrial production. As the front end merges with cultural and cross-media marketing, and the back end integrates with industrial and civilian sectors, hybrid printing is evolving from a mixed process to an automated, cost-effective solution.
In conclusion, hybrid printing is transitioning from toner-based systems to inkjet, combining high production efficiency, diverse substrates, and automation. When paired with printed electronics, it opens up vast possibilities—from anti-counterfeiting and product marketing to cloud-based monitoring and industrial printing. The future of hybrid printing is bright, with endless potential for innovation and growth.