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CONCRETE PRODUCTS & CAST STONE80 CPI %u2013 Concrete Plant International %u2013 4 | 2025 www.cpi-worldwide.comDigital printing systems have been in use in the graphic arts industry for over 40 years. Initially, they were primarily applied in the paper and advertising sectors. Over time, the technology began to be explored for other materials. Early applications focused mainly on short-lived consumer goods such as photographs, photo books, and mugs.Digital printing in the tile industryThe tile industry was the first sector to decorate durable products using digital printing, thereby initiating a technological shift. Since the development of recirculating print heads in 2006, it has become possible to use highly pigmented, inorganic inks for decorating long-lasting outdoor products. Today, many printing systems equipped with these print heads are integrated into continuous production processes.The inks used had to be adapted to the specific conditions of production before they were ready for mass production and further developed for other applications. Approximately 90 percent of the global tile production industry has transitioned from screen and rotary printing to digital printing over the past ten years. Digital printing is now firmly established as the standard technology for decorating durable products in this sector.Digital printing on the surfaces of concrete productsConcrete products are in direct competition with ceramic tiles. For over ten years, efforts have been underway to develop dedicated concepts for decorating concrete using digital printing. The goal is to move beyond the limited design options offered by conventional concrete mixes and to provide a cost-effective solution for individualized surface design.Innovative design options for concrete surfacesDurable and UV-resistant concrete surfacesn Claudia Istel, Zschimmer & Schwarz GmbH & Co KG Chemische Fabriken, GermanyJohannes Laacks, Rhein-Chemotechnik GmbH, GermanyFig. 1: Patio tiles with digitally printed surfaces.