Printing Industry Boosts Offset and Automated DTO Technologies Amid Labor Shortages

Offset printing remains a vital part of the print market despite the rise of digital platforms. Slate Group in Lubbock, Texas, upgraded its fleet with Komori LED presses, including an eight‑color perfector, reporting faster makeready times and doubled‑sided production that has driven growth and efficiency for catalog and publication work.

Engineered Printing Solutions (EPS) reports surging demand for automated direct‑to‑object (DTO) printing systems as manufacturers across plastics, packaging, medical, industrial and promotional sectors seek to reduce labor reliance and improve consistency. The trend reflects broader labor‑shortage pressures, with EPS having installed over 100 single‑pass DTO machines and emphasizing automation, robotics and integrated workflow to cut labor costs.