Monitoring Digital Package Printing Performance

This paper deals with performance monitoring and data management of digital package printing and fiber-based packaging production. The aim of this case specific study was to determine the characteristics of demand driven packaging production. In order to make equal and stable benchmarking long-term data gathering was performed. According to results ground for economically viable demand driven packaging production exists, but several technical as well as economical limitations were identified. In this case printing was identified as a bottleneck and the majority of resource costs were associated with printing activity. According to results printing accounted easily 50% or more of all costs. Other significant cost factors were packaging activity, toner and carton usage. Attention should be paid for maintenance cycles, press control and incoming designs. The role of carton and especially the coating layer is critical and attention should be paid to the selection of the right carton for digitally printed packaging.