Print businesses rethink production as automation and digital inkjet reshape 2026

For many Australian print businesses, 2026 is proving to be less about chasing volume and more about rethinking how work moves through the factory. Ongoing labour shortages, rising expectations around turnaround times, and increasing job complexity are forcing printers to reduce manual intervention wherever possible, according to Jet Technologies.

Jack Malki, Director at Jet Technologies, said the most significant change underway is a structural shift towards production environments with fewer touchpoints and greater reliance on digital platforms.

“Printers are being asked to deliver more jobs, in more variations, with fewer people involved at every step,” Malki said. “That combination simply isn’t sustainable with traditional, labour-intensive workflows, and it’s why we’re seeing sustained momentum behind digital print — particularly inkjet.”

According to Jet Technologies, digital inkjet is no longer being evaluated purely on print quality or run length, but on how effectively it simplifies production and removes manual processes across the business.

“In many cases, the difference in touchpoints compared to conventional print is substantial,” Malki explained. “Digital print allows work to move through the business with far less manual handling.”

However, Malki says the press itself is only part of the equation. Increasingly, printers are investing in automation beyond print engines, including Management Information Systems (MIS), automated artwork intake, pre-press preparation, variable data workflows and finishing.

“Automation is often underestimated,” Malki said. “The biggest gains happen when everything is connected. Even simple job-memory functions can save an enormous amount of time when complexity increases.”

Labour availability remains the most consistent pressure point across the industry in 2026. An aging workforce, combined with challenges in attracting and training younger staff, continues to affect printers across labels, packaging and commercial print.

“There isn’t a single business we work with that isn’t feeling labour pressure in some form,” Malki said. “It’s universal, and it’s the main driver behind the structural changes we’re seeing.”

As a result, digital platforms and automation are increasingly viewed not as optional investments, but as essential tools for maintaining output, consistency and quality with fewer skilled operators.

Alongside efficiency-driven investments, Jet Technologies is also seeing growing interest in digital embellishment, particularly in labels. One emerging area is what the company refers to as label contouring, where inkjet embellishment creates multi-height, tactile finishes.

“Once brand owners see contoured, tactile labels, flat print starts to feel very ordinary,” Malki explained. “It adds a level of engagement that’s difficult to achieve any other way, and the response from brands has been extremely strong.”

Sustainability adoption across the printing industry, however, remains uneven. Jet Technologies says uptake varies widely not only between market segments, but often between customers operating in the same category.

“There’s a very broad spectrum, from minimal change through to genuinely embedded sustainability strategies,” Malki said. “In the past, there was a lot of relabelling of existing products, but that’s starting to give way to more meaningful change.”

Recent progress, Malki said, has been driven by new materials that deliver improved environmental outcomes without compromising performance or cost.

“When a sustainable solution is accessible and commercially realistic, the industry does move,” Malki added. “We’ve seen that clearly with laminating films containing recycled content, which have gone from niche to mainstream in a relatively short period.”

Looking ahead, Jet Technologies believes print businesses that continue to invest in digital inkjet, automation and connected workflows will be best positioned to manage labour constraints while meeting rising expectations around speed, variation and complexity.

Jack Malki, Director at Jet Technologies.

Top image credit: iStock.com/-Iznogood-