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To help achieve these many operations are focusing attention on ways to maximise their production capabilities with smooth and streamlined workflow that supports their service offering.

Rather than defaulting to press investments, forward thinking businesses are exploring how end to end processes can be more efficiently managed with software. They are also considering more effective ways to handle finishing, particularly with regard to how the services offered are completed.

Are you in or out?

Can they be produced inhouse? Or will they need to be outsourced which will add time and expense into the equation?

In-House - This allows full control over the process ensuring high quality, ease in making last-minute adjustments, and responsiveness to customer demands. Operations have full control over consistency. They have the flexibility to easily accommodate custom orders quickly while saving money as there is no need to outsource. However, upfront capital investment is required for in-house finishing equipment and ongoing maintenance costs, while skilled personnel are necessary to operate the systems. Staying competitive means keeping equipment up to date.

Outsourcing – This is ideal for operations that don't have the right equipment or expertise in-house. It enables access to specialized equipment such as embossing, foiling and laser cutting. As there is no need for capital expenditure, equipment costs are saved as is dedicated space and labor. Production can be scaled quickly without investment in more machines or personnel – particularly beneficial for fluctuating or seasonal demand. On the downside, outsourcing can reduce control over quality and deadlines, and it may lead to higher costs per job for smaller runs or urgent orders, as well as potential risks around consistency.

For some jobs, where the requests may be too infrequent to warrant investment in the systems required to complete the work, outsourcing will be cheaper. But when multiple orders are received there comes a tipping point at which investment makes sense, even when factoring in staffing costs.

Time to get inline?

Production efficiency can be maximised by eliminating unnecessary steps that eat into financial and staffing resources. This is particularly relevant in environments where steady volumes of broadly similar jobs are completed. Assessing the mix of work today and how it could evolve will help with understanding how to best shape the finishing process. How could working inline, nearline or offline be beneficial?

Inline finishing where the press is connected to the finishing process enables the most efficient and automated production. It eliminates of much of the manual handling to maximize productivity and reduce downtime, ensures consistent quality and often requires less space than stand alone solutions. It is especially suited to similar types of medium to long run work, often using the same substrate.

Nearline finishing solutions are physically located near the production press, reducing the time it takes to move jobs over. The finishing line knows the requirements of each job, from OMR (optical mark recognition) technology or from a direct interface with the press’s print server, through JDF. This enables the finishing line to manage the printed output from a variety of presses. An audit trail can also be created, which is critical to personalized products like mailshots or transactional documents. This increases production flexibility and is ideal for operations managing a wider mix of jobs.

Standalone finishing equipment operates independently of the main production line with jobs transferred to the finishing area after printing is complete. This offers the greatest production flexibility especially for those operations offering a wide range of services and managing very different run lengths. It is also favored by those specialising in high customisation.  

When weighing up what could work most effectively operations should consider print volume, customization needs, costs, turnaround time and space constraints. 

Where digital delivers

Digital production technology lends itself to inline possibilities with development of numerous space efficient solutions that enable production from booklets and manuals to business cards, as well as laser cutting, digital foiling, and UV coating. Dedicated software such as
AccurioPro Flux supports consistency while the options are continuously being enhanced and expanded. At drupa Konica Minolta showcased its latest inline lamination solution – the CL-401 from Acco - ideally suited to the completion of a wide range of applications from brochures and leaflets to posters.

Digital finishing is highly automated, reducing labor costs, minimizing human error, and boosting production speed. Additionally, smart systems equipped with sensors and AI can detect issues in real-time, further improving quality and reducing waste. 

Sustainable production is enabled, as only what is required is produced, and profitability enhanced with the ability to deliver high margin personalization and customization with variable data printing or creative embellishments. These capabilities help attract customers looking for unique and memorable print, whether it is for marketing campaigns or premium product lines. They support effective targeting especially for celebrations, seasonal promotions and limited offers.

Perfecting your finish

Creating a streamlined, efficient process enhances quality, flexibility, and profitability. Whether you choose to keep finishing in-house, outsource it, or implement the best configuration (standalone, nearline, or inline), the key is to match your operation’s needs with the right solutions.


Talk to us to see how you can continuously evolve your print finishing capabilities — adopt digital technologies, integrate automation, and embrace sustainability. You will learn how you can not only improve the quality of your finished products but also boost your profitability and market competitiveness in the ever-changing print industry.

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