Commercial printers in South Africa face a number of challenges in today’s economy including the rise of all things digital, economic stress, heightened competition, rising costs and the importance of environmental concerns.
Heidie-Mari Middel, Production Specialist at Kyocera Document Solutions South Africa says that inkjet production printers can aid in unleashing local printing businesses potential.
She looks at 5 key challenges that commercial printers face and offers potential solutions:-
Digital Transformation: With the rise of digital media and online communication channels, the print industry has faced a significant decrease in demand. Commercial printers in South Africa are facing the challenge of adapting to this new digital era and many need to invest in new technologies that enable them to meet the changing needs of their customers.
The solution
Commercial inkjet printers can help commercial printers in South Africa adapt to the new digital era by offering fast and cost-effective digital printing services. Inkjet printers are highly versatile and can print on a variety of substrates, including paper, plastics, and textiles, making them ideal for producing a wide range of products such as signage, labels, packaging and promotional materials.
Economic Instability: South Africa’s economy has experienced significant fluctuations over the years, and this has had a major impact on the print industry. Commercial printers face the challenge of coping with unpredictable changes in demand, pricing pressures and supply chain disruptions.
The solution
Commercial inkjet printers maintain economic stability by offering low running costs and high-speed production. Inkjet technology enables the production of high-quality products at a lower cost, which can help in staying competitive in a challenging economic environment.
Competition: The print industry in South Africa is highly competitive, and commercial printers face the challenge of differentiating themselves from their competitors. Price wars are not helpful in an economic downturn as it hurts everyone in the industry so other options like offering unique services, and high-quality products are required.
The solution
Commercial inkjet printers can help with differentiation by offering unique services such as variable data printing, short-run printing and customisation. These services are highly in demand in today’s market and can help commercial printers attract new customers and retain existing ones.
Rising Costs: The cost of raw materials, labour, and other inputs has been increasing steadily in South Africa over the years. This may present a challenge to commercial printers who may need to find ways to manage their costs while maintaining profitability.
The solution
Commercial inkjet printers help companies manage their costs by reducing wastage, minimising setup times, and optimising their production processes. Inkjet technology allows for fast turnaround times, which can help commercial printers meet tight deadlines and reduce the need for costly inventory storage.
Environmental Sustainability: With growing concerns about climate change and environmental sustainability, commercial printers in South Africa may face the challenge of complying with strict regulations and adopting sustainable practices in their operations to minimise their environmental impact.The solution
Commercial inkjet printers adopt sustainable practices by using eco-friendly inks and reducing carbon footprint. Inkjet technology allows for precise control of ink usage, which can help reduce ink waste and minimise environmental impact. Additionally, inkjet printers are capable of printing on a variety of eco-friendly substrates, such as recycled paper, which can further help commercial printers reduce their environmental impact.
About Kyocera’s cut sheet digital inkjet printer
The commercial printing market has traditionally been split into two categories: expensive offset printers and large-size inkjet printers for commercial printing applications typically involving large print runs of identical content, such as magazines and flyers, and inexpensive toner printers for smaller, custom print runs, where total monthly print volumes are relatively modest.
Enter Kyocera’s TASKalfa Pro 15000c, a cut sheet digital inkjet printer, which fits neatly between these two categories by providing high-productivity performance at an entry-level price.
The TASKalfa Pro 15000c prints up to 150 A4 pages per minute for up to an hour without pausing and boasts excellent image quality, thanks to the unique water-based pigment inks developed exclusively by Kyocera. Digital printers support variable printing since physical plates are not used, thereby allowing a much greater degree of flexibility.
Digital printers do not require special skills or qualifications to operate, which reduces labour costs for greater efficiency and productivity. By leveraging the technological assets and resources of the Kyocera Group, a high-productivity, cut sheet digital inkjet printer at a surprisingly low purchase price is on offer.
About Kyocera Document Solutions South Africa
Kyocera Document Solutions South Africa is a group company of Kyocera Document Solutions Inc. , a global leading provider of total document solutions based in Osaka, Japan. The company’s portfolio includes reliable and eco-friendly MFPs and printers, as well as business applications and consultative services which enable customers to optimise and manage their document workflow, reaching new heights of efficiency. With professional expertise and a culture of empathetic partnership, the objective of the company is to help organisations put knowledge to work to drive change.
For further information visit www.kyoceradocumentsolutions.co.za
About KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc
Kyocera Document Solutions Inc. is a group company of Kyocera Corporation (Kyocera), a leading supplier of semiconductor packages, industrial and automotive components, semiconductor packages, electronic devices, smart energy systems, printers, copiers, and mobile phones. During the year ended March 31, 2022, the Kyocera Group’s consolidated sales revenue totalled 1.8 trillion yen (approx. US$15.1 billion). Kyocera is ranked #603 on Forbes magazine’s 2021 “Global 2000” list of the world’s largest publicly traded companies and has been named by The Wall Street Journal among “The World’s 100 Most Sustainably Managed Companies.”