Abstract: The author of this article discussed the view of the new technology in the label industry and believes that RFID applications are all-embracing. It will be the world's most popular star industry in recent years; with the continuous maturation of digital printing technology and the gradual expansion of application fields, especially with digital With the advent of postpress processing units for printing systems, the development of digital label printers is just around the corner. For label printing companies in China, he puts forward that “professionalization and scale are the primary considerations for label printers to meet more professional purchases. And standardized requirements."

One, the world's most popular star industry: RPID wireless RF smart labels

When it comes to new technology trends, we must first talk about the production of RFID radio tags. After five years of cooperation and development by more than a dozen companies such as American Ma Andy and Texas Instruments, they finally realized the production of printed antennas and packages on the Ma Andy flexo printing press. Currently, they have been fully commercialized and there are 10 in North America. The line is operating normally. The use of printed conductive inks and in-line packaging not only reduces the cost of RFID smart labels, but also provides a basis for high-efficiency and high-volume production to meet the huge demand in the future logistics field. This new technology also provides unprecedented opportunities for the label printing industry. Great development opportunities.

According to experts' predictions, by 2015, the whole world is expected to need 1 trillion RFID tags annually, 99% of which are in the form of labels. It is understood that Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, has recently asked the top 100 suppliers to have RFID tags for all products shipped to major distribution plants in 2006; Distribution point products also use RFID (radio frequency identification). In November 2004, Metro Group of Germany began to extensively expand the application of RFID - "Future Supermarket". Many large application system developers such as Sun, SAP, Oracee, IBM, and Microsoft have seen opportunities for RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology, and have integrated RFID technology into their products to meet the huge demand in the future. This move has been considered by the economic community as a clear sign that "RFID" is replacing bar codes.

In addition, RFID also has features that are difficult to forge, making it easier to get popular applications. What RFID brings is not only the convenience of life and work, it means a safer, more efficient and timely data collection method, an era of rapid development, and the entire human living environment will also occur. Fundamental changes, the application of RFID all-embracing, will be the world's most popular star industry in recent years.

Second, the role of digital new technology in the label industry

The domestic daily chemical industry, such as Procter & Gamble and other large suppliers in the past few years from a large number of direct screen to the self-adhesive and shrink film labels, making the daily chemical industry's label multiplied, but with the stability of the business, this growth The speed will not continue, and another logistics area that is not noticed by everyone is developing quietly. In foreign countries, thermal paper and printing paper are very simple in circulation and promotion, but sometimes the requirements of product tracking involve variable codes. Or anti-counterfeit requirements related to the search code, as well as the need for labels to print twice, and even directly variable personalized printing, are directly related to digital technology.
With zero inventory requirements, a short-run printing business emerged, and digital printing can precisely adapt to this demand. The business of variable information labeling and traditional printing combined with variable code also belongs to the category of digital applications. In the field of logistics and anti-counterfeit, the demand for traditional printing combined with digital printing has grown rapidly, and the domestic market has begun to take shape. The most important thing to distinguish from pure short-run digital printing is that the business is very large, but the profits are equally high. Corresponding to the domestic logistics and anti-counterfeiting market, the application of digital technology in labels deserves our attention.

According to the investigation of the US market by relevant professional organizations, by 2006, multi-version and personalized printing jobs will account for 33% of the commercial printing market, while 78% of print job batches will not exceed 5000 copies, and on-demand printing year The growth rate reached 14%. Through the analysis of the development trend of digital printing in the commercial field and the analysis of many global customer success cases, it is proved that “the current production type digital printing technology is mature, and the development level of the digital printing industry depends on whether digital printing service companies can provide more Value-added services or solutions.Traditional printing companies should not overlook the opportunities presented by digital printing technology. Digital printing is the best complement to prepress. In the future development, how to use network technology and digital printing technology to achieve printing activities The online submission of articles, the digital networking of production processes, and the digital management of live jobs or content, positioning companies in digital service providers is something the industry colleagues should seriously consider and treat. The printing industry is integrating into the IT industry, the digital printing industry The development prospects are very optimistic."
With the continuous maturation of digital printing technology and the gradual expansion of application fields, especially the emergence of post-press processing units that are compatible with digital printing systems, the development of digital label printers is just around the corner.

Third, the status of domestic label printing and new market needs

With the development of the market economy, especially the needs of the packaging industry and the anti-counterfeiting industry, the domestic label market has maintained a momentum of sustained high growth in recent years, with an average annual growth rate of 15 to 20%. This is other packaging. The printing industry cannot match. Label printing has become quite large. Currently there are more than 4,000 companies engaged in label printing in the country, with an annual output of 1 billion square meters.
However, due to the late start of the label printing industry in China, although it has developed rapidly in recent years, compared with developed countries such as Europe, the United States, and Japan, there are still many areas in terms of market size, product quality, application of new technologies, and consumption levels. A considerable gap. China's label printing market is still in its initial stage of development. It has not yet matured. It is mainly manifested in:

â—† Label printing and letterpress printing still dominates, but internationally, it mainly took flexo printing;
â—† Paper still accounts for a large proportion, 85% of which are wet labels in China, but internationally have turned to films;
â—† Less professional label printing companies;
â—† There are fewer new technologies used in label printing, and some technologies are even blank. Such as radio frequency smart labels;
â—† The application scope of new label materials and new technologies is narrow, and the development and application of multi-functional and multi-purpose new varieties cannot keep up with the needs of the market.

With the entry of more foreign companies and the demand for international procurement, there will be more business integration in the label industry. First, in order to meet the requirements of more professional procurement and standardization, professionalization and scale will be the primary consideration for label printers. Secondly, the reduction of profits, shortened product life cycle, zero inventory, promotion and consumer demand, convenience of single batches, and increase of duplicated businesses all require that printers face business in a more rapid manner; Finally, production should be more efficient. When investing, it should fully consider the overall cost of the machine and the package. Considering the general trend of environmental protection, consistent requirements for brand management and quality, and cost-effectiveness, these considerations should be taken into account. Specialized narrow-width flexographic printing The machine will have a wide range of adaptability.

—— A batch of domestic brand beer companies require plastic labels with transparent effects; some well-known international brands of beer (such as Gamba, Haigengen, etc.) now require transparent labels (plastic film printing) because it is more suitable for customers. Attractive, more popular with consumers;
- Multi-layer labels are required on medical medicine vials. Instructions for use of medicines are printed on multi-layer labels. When the label is opened, the instructions for use can be seen. It is convenient and not easy to lose;
- Some cosmetics and detergent companies require in-mold labels;
——Supermarkets and logistics companies urgently demand that they provide inexpensive and smart RF smart labels.

Source: Weinan Printing Network