For decades, the print and packaging industry was built on efficient mass production. Today, the focus is shifting towards mass customisation. Consumers increasingly expect personalised books, 3 D Printed obejcts, customised packaging, individual labels, and printed products tailored to their needs and lifestyles. This transformation is changing not only the products that are manufactured but also the technologies and production processes behind them. Modern print and packaging engineers must develop manufacturing systems that combine the efficiency of mass production with the flexibility to produce unique, customer-specific products.

We are about to witness the next industrial revolution. 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing (AM), refers to processes used to synthesise a three-dimensional object. More computer graphics and CAD software will support direct printing from within the software, consequently making printing easier for the end user. Top computer graphics software will integrate to 3D printing. 3D printing is said to revolutionise many parts of the industry.

3D Printers are melting filament, most commonly PLA, in their print heads. Then the liquid material is pushed through a nozzle, onto the printing bed. There it is immediately cooling down enough to be hardened again. Through printing layer onto layer and therefore building up the model, the print is finished. Nowadays there are different options available like using different filaments for one model or building electronics into the 3D printed model.

The HdM has its own initiative for 3D print. Any student can use the 3D printers at the university and print their own models. In the industry, additive manu-facturing is used in many different fields, ranging from printing car parts or decorative articles to printing backup devices for rockets.

Digital Printing is used to print variable data. This includes commercial print products,advertising, labels, film or flexible packaging. It involves sending an image directly to the printer using digital files such as PDFs. 

Digital printing allows on-demand printing, and variable data printing for individualized and personalized products. This is a form of digital printing, in which elements such as text, graphics, and images are changed from one printed piece to the next, without stopping or slowing down the printing process. 

Variable Data Printing goes hand in hand with the Internet. Images may be modified or exchanged by using a server-based Internet platform. The global commercial printing market is poised for substantial growth over the next seven years. Individualised printing in advertising, packaging, and commercials, will respond to new product needs of business customers.