Over half of production inkjet customers dissatisfied with the level of print qualification data supplied by their OEMs

New research from Inkjet Insight delves into customer requirements for paper qualification data. The Inkjet Insight Production Inkjet Market Survey on Print Quality Measurement and Paper Qualification includes data gathered from dozens of production inkjet users in the U.S. in the 4th quarter of 2019.

The survey was designed to gather information on customers’ requirements for print quality measurement when qualifying papers for use on inkjet presses and to measure satisfaction with related OEM services. The survey covered companies involved in a wide array of production inkjet application segments including book manufacturing, commercial printing, direct mail, packaging and transaction printing.

Only 17 percent of survey participants said that their OEMs provided additional paper evaluation data not included in standard paper listings. Nearly half of survey participants stated that they need additional paper qualification data which their OEM did not currently supply. Responses covered participants who reported working with a wide range of OEMS including Canon, HP, Kodak, Komori, Ricoh, RISO, Screen, Superweb, and Xerox. Many participants worked with more than one inkjet OEM. 

“With only 28 percent of survey participants indicating satisfaction with the qualification data supplied in standard OEM media listings, it is clear that there is room for improvement,” said Elizabeth Gooding, President of Inkjet Insight. “However, customers also need to understand the challenges that OEMs face in keeping up with media qualification efforts.”

This research paper includes recommendations for current owners of production inkjet when requesting paper qualification data from OEMs as well as recommendations for OEMs on improving communication and supporting data-driven decision making for customers.

Mary Schilling, co-founder of Inkjet Insight, believes that both OEMs and customers have a role to play in improving the paper qualification process. “Customers need to consider the competing demands that OEMs have for press time between testing system upgrades, certifying finishing partners, supporting the sales process and working with mills to qualify papers,” says Schilling. “Media qualification is a costly process that must be repeated every time inks and press options are upgraded.” 

This research shows that there are significant opportunities for improvement in the paper qualification process that can benefit customers, inkjet OEMs, paper mills and print buyers.