Let’s face it: Most of the printing industry is pretty myopic, and based on preconceived notions of what printing is. Even among printing companies, the focus is on ink-on-paper, cost-per-impression issues. The models are familiar, based on the printing discipline used, and most companies keep themselves busy (and profitable) by printing commodity stuff. But just like an iceberg, what we see above the surface—the “visible side of print”—does not tell the complete story.

Industrial printing is a massive industry, serving vertical markets from aerospace to electronics, and from medical to interior design. What makes industrial printing (for the most part) unique (and mostly hidden from view) is that most industrial printing companies are not “print for pay” enterprises. They are instead manufacturers who use one or a variety of printing technologies within a larger process. And while printing is important to us, due to the fact we view the world through the “lens” of printing, printing may not be any more important to these manufacturers than other process steps, which could include soldering, assembly, or vacuum forming.

For much of the industrial printing industry, analog processes in general (and often screen printing, to be more specific) are used to mark, embellish, or decorate the potential end product either during or after it becomes the “thing” it will ultimately become. And it’s not always “visual” marking or embellishment: Electrically-conductive inks are essential in the production of mass-produced electronic devices, increasing product reliability, reducing production time and lowering labor costs. A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to tour a company that is a manufacturer of specialty electronic devices. It was truly eye-opening to see printing used in such a different way, and to realize its humble position within the broader operation.