The most compelling subject at the International Graphic Arts Show (IGAS) 2018 was the development and proliferation of the Smart Factory in the printing sector. Industry 4.0, which first made waves at drupa 2016 with the unveiling of smart factories such as Print 4.0 and Finishing 4.0, is viewed as an embodiment of the fourth industrial revolution and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), spearheaded by Germany and the United States respectively. Industry 4.0 is positioning itself as a core technology in the support of the innovations of the IIoT, such as big data, robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI), amongst other revolutionary ideas. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, has described such breakthrough ideas as that which will take the globe “from mass production and uniform service to customized production and service tailored to individual needs.” In terms of this transformation's effect on the printing industry, an accompanying transformation of printing industry structure and strategy is indeed required. The integration of Smart Factory within Industry 4.0 is also expected in the printing industry. Although drupa 2016 marked the beginning of the transition to Industry 4.0, the lessons and consequences of IGAS 2018 are not yet fully understood, particularly the trend toward and the signs of the forthcoming singularity. This study endeavors to explain this new trend and the technology on display at IGAS 2018.

In this paper, the technology trends manifest in recent digital printing technology developments as seen at IGAS 2018 are explained. At IGAS, the latest web-fed inkjet printing presses from major manufacturers was armed. Each of these advanced models had an output resolution of 1200 dpi and was capable of printing on offset coated paper with at a rate of about 100 m/min. By incorporating automated cooperation with the post-press system through production control software, the presses exhibited a configuration that emphasizes automation, efficiency, and labor-reduction, advancing themselves as the Smart Factory of the near future. As for small digital printer trends, IGAS revealed a focus on models equipped with special color toners, automatic inspection equipment, and other high-value features, effectively displaying new possibilities for the small lot/multi-kind printing business. In the printing market, the digital printing system will continue to be widely used, but digital printing machines are merely manufacturing systems, and it seems that there is a demand for business expansion with more customer-oriented aims.

In this year's International Graphic Art Show (IGAS 2018), a panel discussion was held on the current status of digital printing penetration in the rapidly changing publishing field. In this discussion current trends and circumstances in the publishing field were introduced, followed by free discussion. This paper examines the content of this discussion and explains the current situation of the publishing market and offers future predictions with a focus on “Print Books On-Demand.” As the digital shift rapidly progresses in the publishing field, it is necessary to strengthen correspondence with digitalization. While the current system holds it is imperative to create a new business model to take advantage of changes to the industry and the market.

In the shrinking printing market, there is a demand for not only high productivity but also for high-efficiency operational procedures. There is an idea that the elimination of useless materials and energy and wasteful working time in the printing process will lead to profits. Based on the above idea, a new technique is needed to reduce the waiting time after printing and the troubles caused by powder and drying defects at post-press. The solution is quick curing using high-sensitivity UV ink that is currently the mainstream in offset printing. In addition, with the progress of LED-UV, the high-sensitivity UV market is expected to expand even further. This paper will primarily examine KOMORI's H-UV and H-UV L (LED).

Many historians agree that there have been three industrial revolutions to date, but interconnected digital technology might trigger the fourth. This article discusses advancement that are expected to change how print is manufactured, which service providers produce, and which print service providers will become one as they transform their businesses to better align with digital technologies. The term “Industry 4.0” refers to the combination of several major innovations in digital technology, all coming to maturity simultaneously and poised to transform critical manufacturing sectors. According to the World Economic Forum Founder, Klaus Schwab, the fourth industrial revolution is evolving at an exponential rather than a linear pace. It is expected to change what print service providers do, how they do those things, and who are entirely under the new business models. This paper aims to highlight how innovation has changed the landscape of printing industry by specifying the trend in printing technologies under the influence of “Industry 4.0”