TWGA Fast Fact 259
Investment in Digital Bindery Equipment Creeping Upward

November 16th, 2004
http://www.trendwatchgraphicarts.com/fastfacts/fast259.html

THE FACTS
In Spring 2004, 7% of all print and prepress firms plan to invest in binding equipment compatible with digital presses-compared to 15% who plan to invest in bindery equipment compatible with traditional offset or DI presses.

THE DATA
Planned Investment in Bindery (Traditional vs. Digital), All Print and Prepress Firms, Spring 2003-Spring 2004
View Chart: http://www.trendwatchgraphicarts.com/fastfacts/fast259.html

WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?
As the printing industry has emerged reenergized from the doldrums of the economic slump, an increasingly important part of that resurgence has involved digital printing. Hence, we've been tracking a heightened demand to meet the challenges posed by the "digital bindery"-especially now that value-added services are of paramount importance to the success of many shops. After all, an efficiently configured bindery is as important to a digital workflow as the digital output device and the prepress functions that drive it. The binding and finishing capabilities that embrace the "digital value proposition" are integral to its success. We've often described this "digital value proposition" in terms of "convergence." This convergence is not complete, but it is underway-and gathering momentum.

EXCERPTED FROM
TrendWatch Graphic Arts Special Report, "The Digital Bindery: Still Gathering a Full Head of Steam," October 2004.
http://www.trendwatchgraphicarts.com/special.html