Perhaps, not surprisingly, it is China that has become the fastest growing market for ceramic inkjet printing technology in the world and is also the world's largest ceramic inkjet market in terms of the number of companies involved in developing the technology. From nowhere, the country now has 10 companies involved in ceramic inkjet, including Hope, Mei Jia, New King Time, Tai Wei, Flora Digital, and King Tau, which in turn has spawned seven companies to enter the field of ceramic ink manufacturing, such as Dowstone, Mindst and Create Tide according to local industry observers.
In recent years, the number of ceramic inkjet devices in ceramic tiles has risen dramatically. According to statistics, before 31 December, 2010 there were only 12 inkjet machines in China. The newly installed machines were 80 units in 2011, and 100 units during January-June 2012. There were 192 units of ceramic inkjet in China by the end of 30 June, 2012. According to incomplete statistics, about 500 ceramic inkjet were newly installed in 2012 and online ceramic inkjet machines probably reached 700-800 by the end of 2012. According to Mr Zhang Baiqing’s survey forecast, in 2013 newly installed ceramic inkjets exceed the 600-800 and by the end of this year, China's online operation ceramic inkjet will approach 1,300-1,600.
Talking about China's ceramic inkjet market, research by Asian Ceramics shows that there are now some 3,273 ceramic tile production lines in operation, of which one third are involved in interior wall and rustic tiles. Therefore, the capacity for inkjet machines could be as high as 3,000 at present, given an average of three machines per line.
Elsewhere, inkjet is booming also in India, where up to 300 units are now currently installed and on-line, many of which have come about in the last 12 months with 80% sited in Morbi and some 90% of those originating in China. It is thought that a further 500-600 units would be required in the next 24 months.
There is almost a “dotcom boom” feel to the rapid rise in digital printing technology throughout the industry at the moment…let us hope that it does not end up with the same “bust” at the end of it.
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