The increase of quick printing shops has intensified the competition in this market. With more and more enterprises involved in digital printing business, this high-profit sector has indicated a sign of price war. Mr. Xue Ping, general manager of Shanghai Guangyi Archi Digital Graphics, made the following remarks on the 2nd summit forum entitled ¡°Digital Printing in China¡±: ¡°Although digital printing only has a short history in China, it is increasing with an annual growth rate of 20%-30%. This phenomenon has on the one hand demonstrated that China¡¯s digital printing market is gradually becoming mature, and on the other hand, indicated a more intensified market competition which is caused by the increase of digital printing practitioners. ¡±

   In fact, newly opened quick printing shops are mainly using low-end equipments and handling some black-and-white printing business. At the same time, some enterprises which have gradually developed into a large scale become more ambitious; therefore, they are starting to introduce productive multi-color digital printing equipments so as to achieve a higher position and explore the new market.

   Thanks to the energetic promotion of the manufacturers, including Kodak, HP, Fuji-Xerox, etc., digital printing equipments have been more frequently presented before the traditional printing enterprises. Confronted with a very tiny profit, these traditional printing enterprises, especially those commercial printing enterprises, are provided with an optimal choice to conduct value-added and innovative business. Up to the present, many famous printing works and publishing houses in this industry have introduced digital printing equipments and explored digital printing business, for example, Heshan Yatushi, C&C Joint Printing Co., (HK) Ltd., etc.

   Actually, digital printing should lay its emphasis on traditional printing enterprises, because it is a favorable supplement to them. It is predicted that in the next few years, traditional printing enterprises will catch up. Differing from many quick printing shops without printing industry background, traditional printing works may rely on their solid industry base and give perfect play to the functions of the digital printing press. In this way, the advantages of the digital printing equipment can be fully embodied.

   3. Post-digital printing quality has been improved.

   In the preliminary development period, digital printing was mainly applied to construction drawings, business document quick printing, etc., and post-printing processing was mainly performed by means of rings, staples, perfect binding, etc. However, with the development of digital printing towards a refined process, new binding technology has been introduced into the digital printing sector, and post-printing binding, trimming and decoration has become an important link of the digital printing process. Post-digital printing treatment has become an important means to add value to the product. An exquisite post-printing processing and binding will help the enterprise to develop new products, explore new business and create new profit.

   Currently, efforts are being made in the digital printing sector to explore the possibility of network post-printing processing technology and equipment. It is believed that in the near future, a series of post-printing equipments applicable to digital printing production will gradually appear in the market and propel the holistic development of the digital printing sector.

   4. Digital printing quality has been improved.

   The overall quality of the digital printing product was also greatly improved in 2006, which can be observed from 2nd Keyin Cup Digital Printing Contest. Many works provide an excellent quality which is comparable with that of the offset printing product.