North America Flexographic Printing Market - Growth, Trends, Forecasts (2020 - 2025)

The North America flexographic printing market was valued at USD xx billion in 2019, and it is expected to reach USD XX billion by 2025, at a CAGR of XX% over the forecast period 2020-2025. The flexographic printing market is evolving rapidly with consumer, retailer, and client demands requiring more color and design variation in packaging and labeling of the product with lower run lengths in economical price. Flexography is expected to gain the most share in the corrugated packaging driven by technological improvement resulting in higher-quality graphics.

• With the rapid development and proliferation of microcomputer and software technologies, automation in the printing sector is fueling its adoption to minimize the human intervention for leaner operation processes that require less energy, less material, and reduced labor waste. Also, advancements in make-ready and plate preparation (one of the processes in flexographic printing), which leads to faster turnaround time, is driving the automation in the industrial printing sector. Most of the equipment manufacturers are looking to deliver almost entirely harmonious solutions to operators from file preparation to finishing steps to provide a seamless experience.
• Moreover, the advanced version of letterpress can print on a variety of materials, such as films, foils, papers, corrugated board, paperboard, non-woven fabrics, and different types of laminates, at a speed of 500 to 2000 feet per minute. The industry is also experiencing high demand for advanced machines to reduce the time and expertise required for prepress, platemaking, and plate changeovers to improve the recyclability of printed labels and packages with minimum waste and set-up errors.
• For instance, Legacy Flexo Corporation has purchased the second Fusion C flexographic press manufactured by Paper Converting Machine Company (PCMC) in January 2020. The Fusion C has a smaller footprint with fewer parts and incorporates many fast make-ready and waste-saving features, including the innovative SteadyPrint technology. It is the only product on the market using this technology to eliminate disturbances and provide real-time monitoring.
• Offset printing can influence the sales of new flexographic printing machines negatively; however, the rising adoption of automated flexographic printing machines and the increasing replacement rate expected to affect market growth positively.

Key Market Trends

Flexible Packaging is Expected to Witness Significant Growth

Changing consumer lifestyles and the increasing demand for snack products are driving the demand for packaged food products that offer an extended shelf life and sterility to food and convenience to the end consumers. Food products purchased through retail outlets need to be packaged in attractive, convenient, and lightweight boxes to minimize efforts required by consumers while carrying them as well as to maintain freshness.

The rising inclination is toward innovative, sustainable, and environment-friendly printing and packaging solutions in the food and cosmetic sector of North America to convey information about the product’s identity in the most reliable way. Consumers are now more aware and conscious about the product, which has created a greater need to develop food labels that are clear and can be trusted. It has compelled many manufacturers to adopt advanced technologies and expected to boost the market.

The pharmaceutical industry has also adopted a flexible packaging solution as it offers protection to the drug products and a wide range of packaging materials such as plastic films, paper, and foil to cater to a variety of sensitive drugs. Moreover, the rise of modern packaging technologies in the pharmaceutical industry, brands exploit the power of distinctive packaging design to stand out from the rest of its competition.

Corrugated Packaging is Expected to Grow Significantly in Forecast Period

Corrugated boxes have gained rapid attention due to the growing demand for environment-friendly packaging and growth of the e-commerce industry in the United States and Canada. According to United States Bureau report, the corrugated box industry grew at an average annual rate of 1%.

Corrugated packaging offers optimum protection at low cost and hence widely used as a secondary packaging solution to pack a variety of products in different end-use industries. Moreover, the growing popularity of online shopping and rising online platforms in North America are fueling the market. According to the United States Department of Commerce report, consumers spent USD 601.75 billion in online shopping with U.S. merchants in 2019 and registered a growth rate of 14.9% from USD 523.64 billion in 2018. It is the biggest annual percentage point jump since 2000.

Brands are promoting corrugated packaging to address sustainability issues and built their reputation. They are recognizing the opportunities to grow dwindling brand loyalty and see packaging as an essential component in creating a memorable shopping experience. They employ high-quality graphic designs, corrugated boxes that provide product differentiation and also protect against fake or counterfeit goods.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a considerable impact on the printing industry. Self-isolation rules have resulted in short supply and even cancellations of the previous orders. United States is the worst affected country with more than six lakh COVID-19 positive cases and 33 thousand fatalities till April 17, 2020. Retail, industrial goods, and consumer packaged goods are some of the major industries that are least impacted due to the dramatic disruption in logistic and supply chain operations.

Competitive Landscape

The North America flexographic printing market is highly competitive. It is dominated by a few major players like Barry-Wehmiller, Mark Andy, MPS Systems North America Inc., Flint Group, and Uteco North America. These major players, with a prominent share in the market, are focusing on expanding their customer base across foreign countries. These companies are leveraging strategic collaborative initiatives to increase their market share and increase their profitability. However, with technological advancements and product innovations, mid-size to smaller companies are growing their market presence by securing new contracts and by tapping new markets.

February 2020 - Barry-Wehmiller, which manufactures and supports automated label-application systems, announced the opening of an innovation and manufacturing center in Irlam, Greater Manchester, UK. It is a 46,000 square-foot facility that will house engineering, manufacturing, and all related support functions and service network across the EMEA region. The company aims to expand its manufacturing footprint from the United States and Canada to the United Kingdom, Mexico, France, Germany, Italy, and China.

• February 2020 - Flint Group has launched the newest addition to its Catena product family, the Catena-W, for Washer, and Catena-DL, for dryer light finisher, that follows Flint Group’s promise of delivering solutions which are better, faster, and easier to use.

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