Blockchain – Connect the digital print industry
Blockchain is more than just the technical foundation of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. But what does this technology have to do with the print industry? Dimitri Tirez, DBT expert, and Christian Busse, blockchain expert at Apfel & Gold GmbH, answered this question in a highly engaging keynote at the Hunkeler Partner Conference 2025 in Lucerne, Switzerland. Their presentation clearly demonstrated that blockchain is far more than a buzzword — and that it holds the potential to fundamentally transform the print industry as well.
Around 30 years ago, the internet was at a similar stage as blockchain is today: a promising technology that few understood, yet one that would go on to reshape the economy and our everyday lives. Today, a world without the internet is unimaginable — and the same development may well lie ahead for blockchain.
What is Blockchain – and what can it really do?
Blockchain is more than just the foundation for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. It is a decentralized, transparent database in which information is stored immutably and traceably. It replaces trust with technology – and this has massive implications for many industries, including the digital print industry.
Practical Applications for the Print Industry
Blockchain technology offers a wide range of practical use cases for the digital print industry. The following examples illustrate how real-world applications might already look today.
Counterfeit Protection & Digital Twins
The production of exclusive print products – such as limited edition books or premium printed materials – is increasingly affected by counterfeiting. With blockchain, every physical product can be assigned a digital certificate — a so-called digital twin. This not only guarantees authenticity, but also allows the entire product history to be documented in a transparent way.
License Management & Copyrights
Especially in the print industry, where creative works are printed, duplicated, and distributed, automated license accounting is a game changer. Smart contracts make it possible for authors, designers, or publishers to automatically receive compensation whenever a work is reproduced or sold — entirely without intermediaries.
Machines that order and pay by themselves
Imagine this: A Hunkeler solution detects wear on a component, automatically places an order with the supplier, and pays using a preloaded wallet — all secured via blockchain. The entire process is recorded and transparently traceable. This is not science fiction — it is already technically possible.
Supply Chain Management & ESG Reporting
Blockchain enables companies to provide end-to-end traceability of their supply chains — from paper production to the final product. This is not only important for sustainability but is also increasingly being mandated by regulations, such as the German Supply Chain Act or the EU taxonomy.
New Business Models enabled by Blockchain
Microinvesting in Machines
Through blockchain, machines can be digitized, divided into “tokens,” and made investable — even for external investors. In the future, a printing machine could be co-financed by multiple individuals who then share in the output it generates.
Right-based Monetization
Authors could earn revenue in real time from the success of their works — because printing machines log their production data on the blockchain. When a specific book is printed, the author is automatically credited with a royalty. This saves time, reduces overhead, and ensures fair participation.
Why act now?
The blockchain technology is ready. Numerous companies around the world — from the pharmaceutical to the automotive industry — are already using it. What’s often missing is the industry-specific implementation.
For the digital print industry, this means: Now is the time to jointly develop standards, platforms, and solutions. The true value of blockchain only emerges when multiple stakeholders within a market collaborate.