How Will Changing Technologies Affect Commercial Printing?

Long relying on traditional printed materials, 2018 might be the year the industry enters a new era.  The commercial industry as a whole is in flux. Not many are certain where the industry will go in the next ten years with the continuous adoption of new digital technologies. That being said, industry reporting firm Idealliance released their annual report and forecasts for the commercial printing industry. According to their findings, the commercial print industry grew by 1% last year, and Idealliance predicts it will grow by 1.5-3% in 2018 with increased investment in newer printing technologies and emerging economies.

 2017 in Review

Along with Idealliance’s reports that the industry grew by 1% last year, reporting agency EDA also updated their yearly report with the numbers of lenders and sellers within the industry.

According to the EDA’s report, the top lenders for new printing equipment were the following companies along with the units they financed:

GENEVA CAPITAL                                             17

T C F EQT FIN INC                                            11

HEIDELBERG USA INC                                      8

BOBST NORTH AMER INC                                5

Tied for 5th

C I T BANK                                                           4

KBA NORTH AMERICA                                       4

PNC EQUIPMENT FINANCE                              4                    

MACDERMID PRINTING SOLUTIONS               4        

WELLS FARGO EQUIPMENT FINANCE            4

Of these top lenders, the most prominent, Geneva Capital financed a whopping 18.3% of the total share on its own while all of the companies combined accounted for 65.6% of all financing for the month of November 2017.

These top lenders provided financing options to companies located across the United States specializing in different commercial printing applications:

Marketing Instincts      California                   Epson               4

School of Visual Arts   New York                   Epson               3

GameTime Wraps       Arkansas                    HP                    3

RR Donnelley & Sons Delaware                    KBA                 3

Quality Printing           Massachusetts           Ploar                 2

Most of these names are instantly recognizable as long-standing titans of the printer tech industry. However, for the commercial printing industry to move forward, it must be able to adapt to the changing technology and needs of the world.

More 3D Printing Investment

To keep up with accelerating technological advancements, the commercial printing industry is starting to shift towards more 3D printing applications using advanced printing equipment. Industry reporting agency IDC estimates that the 3D printing sector will spend nearly $12 billion in 2018 into the Discrete Manufacturing of distinct items like automotive parts and toys.

In addition to Discrete Manufacturing, healthcare-focused printing processes such as bioprinting and regenerative medicine technologies are expected to see significant investment in 2018. These two sectors present the commercial printing industry with the opportunity to turn the page and focus on the next phase.

More Manufacturing

Emerging economies are also expected to play a big role in the growth of the commercial printing business in 2018. More factories are producing items than before, and they will continue to need printers for products and packaging designs.

Where the industry will be in ten years remains to be seen, but with experts predicting increased growth and more investment in next-level technologies, it's safe to assume that the industry might be ready to accept changes and start a new era of printed materials.