Modular Thinking Driving the Future of Print
By FuturePrint Editorial Team
This article is inspired by a talk given by Dave Gray of Dantex at FuturePrint TECH in Valencia April 1-3. To see Dave’s talk click this link or the link at the bottom of this article.
Dave Gray delivered an inspiring talk at FuturePrint in Valencia April 1-3
At FuturePrint, the industry thrives on bold ideas, and Dave Gray of Dantex delivered just that. In a sharp and thought-provoking presentation of print’s evolution, Gray challenged the sector to rethink not only how we build digital presses, but how we define sustainability, intelligence and legacy in industrial print.
“The typeface says it all - the subject is far more important than the speaker,” Gray began, setting the tone for a presentation that questioned conventions. Comparing inkjet presses to culinary creations, he noted that while all manufacturers work with the same basic ingredients - printheads, motors, electronics - the art lies in how these are assembled. Some produce a basic omelette; others, like Dantex, aim for a soufflé.
Many press manufacturers, he argued, deliver “vanilla” solutions: one-size-fits-all systems that serve no one perfectly. By contrast, Dantex embraces modularity. Their approach allows customers to combine subcomponents to better suit their specific production needs. It’s not fully bespoke, but it’s far from off-the-peg. Software, he stressed, is key. In-house development allows Dantex to tailor performance to the customer’s actual application, starting not with the machine, but with the product being produced.
In a standout moment, Gray turned the spotlight onto sustainability. While many industry discussions focus solely on the recyclability of printed output, he argued that the process, and the hardware behind it, need greater scrutiny. “Nobody talked about the sustainability of the press itself,” he said. “But with software and modern engineering, we can now extend the life of presses well beyond what was once expected.”
This shift, he explained, isn’t bad news for manufacturers. Extending machine life reduces total cost of ownership, increases return on investment and makes advanced digital presses more accessible. “If you can amortise the cost over ten years instead of four, affordability improves dramatically.”
He also addressed generational divides in sustainability discussions. Referencing the oft-blamed Baby Boomer generation - his own - Gray noted their influence on buying power, experience and leadership. “Don’t discount the older generation,” he warned.
“Our knowledge of analogue is the foundation on which digital has been built.” Gray also challenged the notion of AI as an innovation engine. “It’s intelligence, not innovation,” he said. “AI is only as good as the database it feeds from.” But with years of metadata from Dantex’s analogue customer base, the company is well-placed to evolve smarter, more intuitive digital systems. Gamers, once overlooked, are now developing Dantex software, harnessing AI and machine learning to improve press performance and operator experience.
At its core, Dantex’s philosophy revolves around convergence: of technology, generations, and print disciplines. Whether customers require inline varnishing, hybrid finishing, or straightforward digital output, the Dantex platform adapts alongside them, utilising data, experience and modular design.
Gray closed with a line that summed up his ethos: “Even though we’re passionate about the machines we build, what we’re most proud of is what they produce. We are labels. And we’re proud of it.”