091907: Local printing firms, publishers going digital, on-demand

Local printing firms, publishers going digital, on-demand

September 19, 2007
Updated 16:28:58 (Mla time)
Erwin Oliva
INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines -- More printing firms and publishers are moving into digital and on-demand printing technology to complement their existing offset printing facility, executives told reporters Wednesday.

"The trend is that digital and offset printing are becoming complementing technologies," said Wilfredo Ileto, general manager of B&W Commercial and member of the Printing Industries Association of the Philippines (PIAP).

Laywer John Choa, president of the PIAP, added that while most of its members are still using offset printing technology, digital printing is emerging as an alternative technology for short-run, on-demand, and variable or customized printing.

"For volume printing, offset printing is still cheaper. But for short-run printing, the trend is going digital," Choa said.

The digital trend in printing is also the primary reason why Canon Marketing Philippines Inc. is now entering this business in the Philippines, said Kenny Tan, product marketing executive of the print and graphic arts marketing of Canon Singapore Pte Ltd.

In the Philippines, the market for so-called digital production printers capable of printing 90 or more pages per minute is still small, said Ramon Arteficio, president and CEO of Canon Marketing Philippines.

"Digital printing is still growing in Asia. We're not here to replace offset printing," stressed Tan.

Canon unveiled its C7000 production printer in the Philippines this week. The cost ranges from P7 to P15 million, Arteficio said.

The local subsidiary said it has already sold one unit in the country. It hopes to sell at least three units by the yearend.

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