Digital printing 'connects real and virtual world' in packaging

Keynote speaker Mike Ferrari is to drive home the benefits of digital printing for the packaging industry at Drupa 2012.

Ferrari, founder of Ferrari Innovation Solutions, has organised the "Day of Packaging" (04 May), selecting speakers with "experience in delivery and content as leaders within their respective companies".

In his keynote address "Mega trends shaping the new consumer experience", Ferrari will discuss how digital print is revolutionising shopping behaviour.

Digital print has driven the mass customisation trend, allowing consumers to personalise a product for an assembly line price.

And the growing online demand for product personalisation and €25.3bn (£20.8bn) turnover expected by the German E-commerce and Distance Selling Trade Association this year increases the attractiveness of digital print as a new avenue for the print industry.

Ferrari said: "Digital printing is now being used far beyond just ‘ink on paper’ but to grow revenue through the enhancement of the consumer experience.

"It delivers benefits that legacy analogue printing can’t, such as print quality, supply chain simplification, relevancy and reduced carbon footprint. When these benefits are leveraged they will grow revenue and margin for consumer product companies.