Book manufacturing is evolving rapidly as publishers demand shorter runs, faster response times, and reduced inventory risk. Inkjet is emerging as the technology that enables book printers to meet those challenges cost-effectively while reshaping supply chains for greater flexibility and resilience.
In this second article of the Rewriting the Book Manufacturing Playbook series, David Zwang explores how inkjet book production empowers publishers and printers to print only what’s needed — from bestsellers to specialized titles — while improving profitability in a shifting market.
Inkjet Printing Leads the Way in Book Manufacturing
The book segment in digital printing is among the fastest-growing applications, favored by publishers seeking flexible supply chains and minimized financial risk. By 2030, research suggests inkjet will be the preferred technology for the majority of book printing worldwide, especially as print-on-demand and educational customization accelerate market shifts.
Using Inkjet for Book Manufacturing enables ultra-fast turnaround, critical for Amazon, educational publishers, and self-published authors, so books can be printed as orders arrive, drastically reducing unsold inventory. Inkjet also makes short-run and niche printing affordable, opening profitable segments such as academic reprints, indie publishing, and personalized children’s books. While it also supports full-color, high-resolution output, suitable for graphic novels, photo books, and instructional texts without the setup costs of offset or toner presses.
The application specific modular design mentality is finding its way into the development of book production workflows, printing systems and platforms like the HP Advantage, which enables the print service provider to configure their press purchase based on their application requirements. Historically, there have been different platforms for different printing applications. We can expect that there will continue to be many evolutionary changes to production inkjet and finishing development and use going forward tailored to more targeted and specialized book production.
Market Momentum Drives Inkjet Book Growth
Inkjet book production will continue reshaping the publishing landscape, making it possible to efficiently print, personalize, and deliver books at nearly every scale from bestsellers to niche specialist titles through 2030 and beyond. Inkjet is projected to grow at a 7% CAGR for book printing between 2025 and 2030, driven by increased demand for onshoring time-sensitive book orders, small batch manufacturing, and personalization in educational and trade publishing. Inkjet technology is rapidly transforming book production, now accounting for the majority of digital book printing by volume. In 2025, about 56% of print buyers report their books are produced using inkjet, and this share is expected to grow due to cost efficiency, fast turnarounds, and the ability to produce short runs and print-on-demand titles.
High-Volume Inkjet Expands Production Capabilities
Continuous-feed inkjet presses, suited for high-volume publishing, now account for a significant majority of pages printed in books and direct mail, and these applications together represent approximately 67% of global page volume for production inkjet. Leading book printers globally have retooled with roll-fed and cut-sheet inkjet solutions to support just-in-time manufacturing, versioning, and reduction in warehousing costs. The quality, throughput, and variability achievable with new inkjet systems enable both short and longer runs efficiently. Along with, and supporting this growth is the ability to manage the changing and delivery of roll media to these new presses with pre and post press support solutions. This is in addition to the front end automation of onboarding and processing the content files in preparation for print and finishing.
Inkjet Advances Reduce Dependence on Toner
Digital color print volumes will continue to shift heavily toward inkjet as the technology matures and expands into packaging, textiles, and broader commercial print segments, while toner will remain relevant for specialty, premium, and short-run work. Toner is also favored for precision, specialty substrates, and certain high-coverage jobs including book covers, but is declining as inkjet quality, speed, and economics improve, especially on standard commercial printing and packaging. Inkjet is rapidly displacing toner in high-volume sectors due to lower cost per impression and increased speed, especially as more inkjet-compatible substrates become available. Market analysts widely expect inkjet’s share to continue rising as substrate compatibility and print quality expand, while toner remains strong in niche and legacy segments.
Substrate Innovation Removes Adoption Barriers
In 2012, production inkjet quality output was acceptable primarily in web offset markets and limited to transactional and perhaps some direct mail. Today, 13 years later, many of the current production inkjet offerings are achieving an offset quality level that is acceptable for a wide variety of applications. So what are the obstacles to wider adoption? One obstacle for inkjet adoption is/was the need for optimized or pre-treated papers. To address the increased demand, paper manufacturers have started increasing their ‘inkjet friendly’ substrate offerings, and some inkjet press manufacturers are offering pre-treating for substrates inline, however those substrate limitations are a continuing obstacle to mainstream adoption and use. After all, could a printer be expected to have different media for their offset, EP and inkjet production? Increasingly, inkjet inks and drying technologies have evolved, and many of the inkjet printers now support coated and uncoated offset papers.
Sustainability and Cost Efficiency Encourage Inkjet Transition
The other drivers for the growth of inkjet production beyond shorter runs and faster turn times, is the need to control costs, inventories and now, increasing sustainability goals. All of these can be supported by digital and inkjet printing technologies. Even with all of these new developments, production inkjet adoption and use is lower than you might expect, especially in cut sheet applications. And while it varies by application, trying to identify and accurately measure the global addressable market and adoption rate is difficult, since inkjet application development and use continues to expand and further segment.
During this period since 2012, while all of these exciting developments, adoption and growth have been occurring, time hasn’t stood still. The markets, along with many other new challenges have been evolving as well. Some of these challenges and changes are market based and some are inkjet inflicted, and they will continue to individually and collectively stimulate adoption. Ultimately, the opportunities that are afforded by production inkjet technology, combined with the vast changes in the marketplace, demand that we all educate each other on how to live and work in this new landscape.
David Zwang, travels around the globe helping companies increase the productivity, margins and market reach of firms in the fields of publishing and packaging across the globe. He is currently the Chairman of the GWG (Ghent Workgroup) and sits on many national and international standards bodies.
