For years, production inkjet printing has been seen as a powerful yet out-of-reach technology for many small and mid-sized print providers. High equipment costs, large footprints, and the belief that inkjet was only viable for high-volume operations created significant barriers to entry. But a recent report from NAPCO Research, “Inkjet for All! How the TASKalfa Pro 15000c is Breaking Entry Barriers to Production Inkjet Adoption,” suggests that these dynamics are starting to shift.
The report blends quantitative data from NAPCO Research’s commercial print surveys with qualitative insights from print service providers who have adopted entry-level sheetfed inkjet. It offers a grounded look at how inkjet is evolving, not just as a production technology but as a more accessible option for a broader range of print businesses.
Understanding the Barriers to Inkjet Investment
According to the research, key obstacles still prevent many print providers from embracing production inkjet. These include:
- The high upfront cost of acquisition and integration
- Concerns about return on investment (ROI)
- Space and infrastructure limitations
- Hesitation over color consistency, workflow adaptation, and training.
However, as sheetfed inkjet options have become more compact and cost-efficient, many of these concerns are being re-evaluated. According to the NAPCO Research study The Production Inkjet Application Revolution, lower per-job costs, reduced labor expenses, and new revenue opportunities are the top benefits of switching to inkjet systems.
