Stora Enso predicts digital printing will take a strong position in packaging markets and become a mainstream process. Strong growth in demand over the last six months for board products that are suitable for digital processes supports the company's forecast. Pira International, which follows developments in the packaging industry also believes that digital printing will account for almost 20% of all printing by 2010.

"Small printers have been leading this digital revolution which can meet the growth in demand for personalised printed packages", says Yrjö Aho, Stora Enso Consumer Boards Marketing Director. "Small printers have been at the front lines since they can offer brand owners very comprehensive services. They've realised the possibilities that digital printing can bring and they are conducting business directly with big brands." Their success is not only due to the digital technology itself but the introduction of customer relationship management systems, CRMS, that promote marketing activities.

Digital Packaging SA, located in France is one success story in this emerging market. It specialises in pre-production packaging. The company prepares test series for big brands such as Nestlé (Herta), Kraft Foods, L'Oréal, Danone and Merck-Lipha. Digital printing's biggest strength is the ability to personalise brand products and support CRM concepts. According to Digital Packaging SA's Managing Director, Gilles Pingeot, that is an area that has started to show aggressive growth. He says, "The more individualised information the brand owner has about markets and customers, the better the company can focus their marketing resources. We have already been involved in a number of promotional projects whereby customers have received their own personalised packages. This has lead to a major increase in response percentages. Likewise, personalised packages are being developed for competitions and events; on the whole, marketing is focused on selected target groups."

Digital Packaging SA uses Indigo´s Omnius printing machines, which have the ability to print six colours (including 78 % of the Pantone colours) and spot colours as well. For their packaging, the company uses Stora Enso's Ensocoat and Ensogloss grades and Performa CTMP board. Ensocoat and Ensogloss grades are said to be particularly suitable for cosmetics, perfume and luxus packages. Performa CTMP has qualities that are reported to be suitable, for example, for chocolate packaging and other odour- and taste-sensitive end-uses. Stora Enso's board grades are tested and recommended by the leading digital printing machine manufacturers.


For further information, please contact:
Stora Enso Consumer Boards
Mr Yrjö Aho, Vice President
FIN-55800 Imatra
FINLAND
Tel: +358 2046 121
Fax: +358 2046 24767
E-mail: yrjo.aho@storaenso.com

Digital Packaging SA
Mr Gilles Pingeot, Managing Director
141, Avenue de Verdun
F-92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux
FRANCE
Tel: +33 1 5804 0302
Fax: +33 1 5804 0300
E-mail: digital.packaging@wanadoo.fr

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