Digital wide format printer growth seen at 7% CAGR

25 May '15

5 min read

The changing applications mix is also reflected in the rise of rigid materials, which now represent 25 per cent of output among respondents.

Over half of all FESPA Print Census respondents indicated their intent to buy digital wide format printing equipment, with a mean spending plan of close to €100,000.

Purchasing plans are dominated by UV printers 27 per cent, textile printers 21 per cent, solvent printers 17 per cent, eco-solvent printers 16 per cent and latex printers 14 per cent.

The majority of those investing or 45 per cent are motivated to do so by the move into new markets with new products or services.

Investment is also driven by the desire to enhance print quality 43 per cent, increase capacity 37 per cent, improve output speed 34 per cent and reduce unit costs 33 per cent.

As identified, textile is the dominant growth application among Print Census respondents as 27 per cent are already involved in garment printing, with 81 per cent seeing growth in this segment, the highest of any growth application.

“Digital is a key enabler here, with over half of respondents expecting digitally produced garments to become an important alternative to traditional screen printing in the next two years,” FESPA informed.

Textile printers feature prominently among investment plans, with 21 per cent of respondents specifically focusing spend in this area, supported by 12 per cent planning to acquire thermal transfer equipment.

Decorative and industrial textile applications also feature heavily, with 78 per cent of those surveyed reporting growth in textiles for décor applications.

Textile substrates continue to make inroads in the signage and graphics space, with 67 per cent observing sustained growth in soft signage.

More than three quarters of respondents expect live media and LCD screen advertising to impact the wide format business in the foreseeable future, with 36 per cent of respondents stating that these technologies are already impacting the business.

31 per cent of those surveyed plan to offer digital signage solutions to their customer base in the next 12 months. (AR)

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