The worldwide market for all types of package and label printing is expected to reach $300 billion this year, growing at an average annual rate of more than five percent, according to Pira Intl. That's another $15 billion next year.

Many new production solutions will be available to study at drupa 2008, set for May 29-June 11 at the Fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany. drupa (www.drupa.com) is considered by many to be better at presenting new packageprinting technology than its huge sister exhibition Interpack, which will be held the month before.

Looking for vast improvements in productivity? That would certainly involve a closer look at what sheetfed pressmakers have up their sleeves. Significantly larger formats, with sheet sizes up to 30 sq ft could jump-start a more productive life for your print shop. Add fully automatic plate-handling systems and the ability to print a wider variety of special colors, and you have an even more interesting converting solution.

At drupa 2008, new digital-print technology will significantly grow package-printing capacity and quality. But also don't miss out on what offset- and flexo-press manufacturers have done recently to enable economical short runs.

On the global business front, even smarter data communication systems that not only allow JDF capabilities but “connect the press to the world” signify another step toward a time when packaging operations can become a global press, accepting jobs from around the world, around the clock.

From a broad range of drupa 2008 exhibitors, look for tools that give you much better access to quick and reliable job calculations, instruments that tell you in real time which jobs will earn you money and which will cost you.