Just about every market research study we’ve seen has concluded that wide-formant is not only holding its own across all print segments, but it also has an extremely bright future. According to reportlinker.com, the global market for wide-format printing equipment estimated at $3.4 billion (USD) in 2020, is projected to reach a $4 billion by 2027. Wide format in Canada is expected to grow at 1.8% GAGR over the same period. According to Verified Market Research, the global wide-format printer market was valued at $8.22 billion (USD) in 2018 and is projected to reach $11.58 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 4.45% from 2019 to 2026. The company also pointed out that today’s wide-format inkjet printers can print on almost anything.

According to Ink World Magazine, the growing demand for wide-format printers for home furnishings and décor, vehicle-wrap applications, increasing demand from the in-plant market, and the availability of wide-format printers in different price ranges and varieties, all create huge growth opportunities for current and new players. The growth, it added, can also be attributed to increased demand in the textile, advertising and packaging industries, the rising adoption of UV-curable inks in outdoor advertising, CAD and technical printing applications, and the growing importance of digital document production in commercial printing applications. All of the above reflect enormous opportunities for commercial printers who are bold enough to enter into wide-format.

The pandemic and its effects

The COVID-19 pandemic actually fueled Canada’s wide-format printing industry. But it also illustrated the resilience and ingenuity of those in our industry who stepped up to the plate in this time of crisis. As the pandemic took hold, many print shops repurposed their production lines to supply Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as face shields, cloth masks, health-protocol posters, instructional manuals, floor graphics for social distancing, and more. Others supplied signage, wide-format graphics and workplace dividers to restaurants, businesses, educational institutions, etc.

For example, trade printer SinaLite (Markham, Ontario) created low-cost face shields, indoor/outdoor floor graphics, removable vinyl decals etc. It launched a free Apparel Resource Centre to help printers profit more from selling custom-printed apparel. It then launched a free Bounce Back Resource Centre so printers could maximize sales as they emerged from the pandemic. OEM Delphax Solutions offered printers in Canada and the U.S. who produce more than 12 million letter impressions per year a chance to acquire its flagship Elan 500 HD Cutsheet Digital Inkjet Press for a minimum of two years with no equipment lease or purchase costs.

At the Sainte-Justine Children’s Hospital in Montréal, employees made protective visors for non-medical personnel. The clear part of the visors was made by GBC. Mimaki released its Wide Format Investment Program that offered up to six months of payment relief at a 3.99% fixed interest rate for 60 months. Konica Minolta supported communities and customers worldwide by re-directing everyday innovations to help customers solve urgent issues arising from pandemic. Most recently, print-finishing specialist Sydney Stone decided not to raise prices, even slightly, as the industry slowly emerges from the pandemic. These initiatives were only some of the hundreds of contributions from industry folks across Canada. Most print experts feel confident that as our economy slowly begins to open, demand for wide-format products will continue. The same observers believe that traditional print will also make a comeback, but at a slightly slower pace.

Major OEM’s for Wide Format Printing

Here’s a look at some of the major wide-format original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and their most recent releases, flagship technology or selected models.

AGFA

Extreme productivity, cutting-edge automation and low ink consumption has already made Agfa’s latest and fastest true hybrid inkjet flatbed printer – the Jeti Tauro H3300 UHS (ultra high speed) – a front-runner in North America. Aptly nicknamed The Beast (due primarily to its ability to easily handle 24/7 heavy-duty workloads while printing on both rigid and roll media), the ruggedly built UHS prints on media up to 3.3 m wide in four  or six colours at speeds up to 600 m²/hr. (6,458 ft²/hr.). This is 30% faster than previous models. It’s also ideal for corrugated cardboard package printing with extended vacuum zones and media guides. With a wide colour gamut and high-colour vibrancy, Agfa’s Greenguard Gold-Certified Anuvia UV LED inks provide patented, Thin Ink Layer technology resulting in the lowest ink consumption on the market, substantially reducing ink costs. Asanti workflow software controls and automates the entire printing process.

Customers expand production. Dan Deveau, President of Toronto’s Cameron Advertising, was the first in North America to install the new press. Cameron is one of North America’s leading large-format, digital and screen-printing visual communication providers. “The output of the Jeti Tauro H3300 UHS will help us continue to grow our business and set us apart,” he said. “This addition gives us further ammunition to be more competitive. The capabilities of this new press will enhance our innovations and increase our flexibility to get more jobs out the door.”

Meanwhile GSP, a leading provider for the retail sector, became the first U.S. printer to install the new Jeti Tauro H3300 UHS at its Clearwater, Florida facility. GSP delivers in-store marketing programs to over 70,000 retail locations from production facilities in Florida, Utah, Wisconsin and Kansas. “Choosing to add this technology illustrates the partnership between our two companies,” said Elaine Scrima, GSP’s VP of Operations. “Agfa’s Jeti Tauro H3300 UHS is an important part of our growth strategy. We are excited to be the first U.S.-based Agfa partner to utilize this technology.”

Technology generates profits. According to Deborah Hutcheson, Director of Strategic Business Development and Distribution at Agfa North America, the installations at Cameron Advertising and GSP are changing the way they do business – and represent technology that advances Agfa’s valued client partnerships. “This historical milestone marks the 12th Agfa press established across GSP’s multiple locations and culminates in the first-ever Tauro H3300 UHS with semi-automation,” Hutcheson added. “We continue to learn from our customers. Our relationships are based on mutual respect and a deep understanding of their businesses. This is how we can successfully introduce new technology to market that delivers results and generates profits.” In Canada, Agfa Incorporated is located in Mississauga, Ontario.

GANDY DIGITAL

Gandy Digital is a Canadian pioneer in large-format digital printing equipment. For the past 35 years, the company has been flying under the radar, so to speak, quietly and diligently creating some of the world’s most advanced – and profitable – large-format printing systems right here in Canada. Today the company has an impressive fleet of inkjet flatbed printers known for their high-resolution printing using the most advanced print heads and ink-drop technology, built-in automation for ease of use, fast speeds, reliable media handling, high ROI, easy installation and integration with existing systems, experienced tech support, affordable warranties and low-cost maintenance.

Gandy’s flagship Gladi8tor true UV flatbed high-resolution, high-speed printer utilizes advanced NanoDot Technology with 3-picolitre drop size print heads, resulting in smooth colour and sharpness combined with fast speeds of over 100 boards/hr. (or 60 boards/hr. in high quality mode). Text as small as 3 point is easily readable at 1,200 dpi. The Gladi8tor comes in two sizes – Gladi8tor 2 has a 4 ft x 8 f. (1.22 m x 2.44 m) print size, while the Gladi8tor 3 has a 6.5 ft x 10 ft (2 m x 3.05 m) print size, both on a vacuum table. Both models can have a roll-to-roll attachment either 8 ft (2.44 m) wide or 10 ft (3.05 m) wide. Smoothness in skin tones and colours on lighter-shaded solid colours can be achieved while “matching the quality of offset printing and photography.” Another major Gladi8tor advantage is the ability to print up to 120 (4 ft x 8 ft) boards an hour at 3,800 ft²/hr. (350 m²/hr.).

Operating from a 40,000 ft² manufacturing facility in Mississauga, Ontario, which also hosts a customer demo centre, Gandy is actually an international player – with sales, service and distribution offices in Mexico, Belgium, the Middle East, Africa, South and Southeast Asia, the Far East, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand. Today, Gandy Digital is at the cutting edge of the worldwide, large-format digital printing industry – but is especially proud to be a Canadian manufacturer. Its popular family of large-format printers, each with their own unique characteristics and benefits, includes the Gladi8tor, Pred8tor and Domin8tor (designed and manufactured in Canada), as well as the Kre8tor Hybrid Flatbed and roll-to-roll (RTR), Fascin8tor UV RTR, and Termin8tor S RTR.

EPSON

You’d be hard pressed to see a more impressive rollout of new wide-format products than from Epson in recent months. Expect more well into the Fall. This includes its SureColor F570 desktop dye-sub printer, production-class SureColor P8570D 44” wide-format photo printer, SureColor F10070H 76” dye-sub printer, and no less than six new production-class SureColor T-Series of ultra-compact wide-format printers for CAD and graphics applications set to launch later this year. The Epson SureColor F570 is sure to turn heads when released this Fall. The 24” desktop dye-sub printer is deal for professionals creating promotional products and apparel decorations (including personalizing awards, mugs, mouse pads, garment embellishments, etc.). Professional quality prints are delivered via powerful PrecisionCore printhead technology.

The compact F570 also has convenient features that streamline workflow – including specialized transfer papers for both rigid and soft media, a 50-sheet auto-feed tray and built-in cutter, and two full sets of inks that deliver exceptional colour saturation. Epson transfer papers yield quality images on both soft and rigid materials.

RICOH

The Ricoh MP CW2201SP Colour Inkjet Printer provides wide-format capabilities for modern CAD work environments. It features easier collaboration in office environments with full multifunction print capabilities, mobile support and precise colour technologies in a compact footprint. With 4GB of RAM and a robust 320GB hard disk drive, the MP CW2201SP can efficiently print, copy, scan and distribute documents, all from a single, easy-to-use wide-format device. Powered by a Smart Operation Panel and intuitive user interface, the MP CW2201SP can produce a wide range of applications – from architectural drawings and product renderings to oversized, full-colour signage. Users can print, scan and distribute documents, and share information quickly while streamlining project workflows. Up to 3,000 files can be stored on the Document Server.

MUTOH

Its new 64” dye-sublimation printer, the XpertJet 1682WR, paired with Mutoh’s new DH21 dye sublimation ink, reduces operational workload and ensures high-quality prints and high production output. Available in 4-colour and 7-colour ink configurations, new features have been added to improve transport and printing on thinner papers. The 1682WR is ideal for a wide range of dye-sub projects – including textiles, hard surfaces, personalized products, signage and more. A Mutoh Status Monitor (MSM) checks the printer’s operational status in real time, while MSM Mobile technology allows monitoring with a smartphone or tablet. A new Media Feed Flange Design lets operators easily load media and exchange multiple rolls, while a new Pressure Roller System means that users can select and engage individual pressure rollers to minimize cockling.

CANON

While Canon’s impressive and very popular array of wide-format imagePROGRAF printers deliver exceptional image quality (which I’ve experienced first-hand), it’s latest unveiling was the Arizona 135 GT UV Wide-Format Flatbed Printer that offers sign makers, commercial, offset and screen printers new ways to expand. The 135’s high image quality is due to VariaDot grayscale technology that uses advanced drop-size selection techniques to deliver photo-realistic images. Productivity enhancements include nesting, batching of complex jobs, step and repeat, mirroring and re-assignment of print modes. UV-LED curing handles a wide range of durable applications on rigid or flexible media with standard or porous surfaces – including glass, aluminum and other metals, canvas, wood, MDF, cardstock, ceramic tiles and plastics.

MIMAKI

The new Mimaki JV100-160 is an affordable professional-grade, eco-solvent, roll-based wide-format printer that’s ideal for a wide range of applications – from high-quality fine-art reproduction to vehicle wrap printing and more. Available in 64” with print speeds up to 677 ft²/hr, its 4-colour and 8-colour options include orange and light black inks. A new Dot Adjustment System (DAS) automatically aligns to ensure consistent print quality and repeatability. A Nozzle Check Unit (NCU) automatically monitors print head performance and detects clogs. The Nozzle Recovery System (NRS) automatically substitutes unproductive nozzles, eliminating downtime and poor image quality. Also new is easier-to-use RasterLink7 – RIP software that can reduce RIP time by 25%.

EFI

EFI Reggiani released its newest printer in June – the industrial, entry-level EFI Reggiani Blaze Printer. The high-quality digital textile printer was specifically designed to help textile companies “blaze” a successful trail into the world of efficient, sustainable industrial inkjet printing. The compact 1.8-metre-wide printer offers low-maintenance, a continuous recirculation ink system equipped with a level sensor and degassing, as well as a print head crash protective system for longer print head life and reduced downtime. With a competitive TCO (total cost of ownership), the Blaze printer can produce up to 125 linear metres per hour with a printing resolution up to 600 x 1200 dpi. It delivers excellent productivity as “one of the fastest digital inkjet solutions in its class,” has 8 300-dpi dual-channel print heads, and can print up to eight colours with full variable drop size.

KONICA MINOLTA

Its AccurrioWide wide-format printers facilitate easy entry into wide-format to create new revenue streams and bring outsourced work back to your shop. The AccurrioWide 200 prints at up to 1,400 dpi using 1024i print head technology, and features low Ink consumption per square foot. Loading media is a smooth and accurate process due to automated features of the media registration bar and the head-height adjustment. The AccurioWide 200’s four-zoned vacuum system ensures flawless media transport. Ionization bars are mounted on the carriage, removing electrostatic charges on substrates to ensure accurate ink-droplet placement. Air-cooled UV LED lamps provide substantial cost savings on energy consumption while an automatic refill system monitors UV ink levels. Shuttle Safety Sensors prevent print heads from touching substrates.

HEWLETT PACKARD

HP’s DesignJet T-Series spans a broad range of devices – from entry-level printers to professional multifunction devices. All accommodate media between 24” and 44” – ideal for seasonal banners, photographs, blueprints, maps and more. The latest addition to the DesignJet line, the new PostScript Z-Series, provides pigmented inks for outdoor applications and excellent photographic quality. In addition to quality improvements, the Z-Series is also engineered to print 2.5 times faster than the DesignJet Z3200 while using less ink. Both the Z6 and Z9 DesignJet Postscript printers include vertical trimmers, new HP Pixel Control colour technology, and an updated poster application. The Z6 is ideal for geographic and water-resistant large-format prints. The 44” Z9+ was designed for photographic prints. HP’s versatile wide range of PageWide wide-format printers also merits a close look.

OTHER WIDE-FORMAT WONDERS

To include all the exceptional wide-format technology from every major OEM would take literally hundreds of pages. However, please also explore these other amazing digital creations. You won’t be disappointed.

• Fujifilm/Inca Onset, Acuity and SpyderX Series.

• Xerox Primelink and Colour EC Series.

• Durst P5 350 and P5 Tex iSub, Rho and Rhotex Series.

• Roland DGA TrueVIS and VersaStudio Printer/Cutter Series,

  Versa Express, VersaUV and SolJet Series, IU-1000F Flatbed

  TrafficWorks traffic sign printer and Texart dye-sub family.

The business proposition

Benefits for your print shop

Of course, the main benefit of adding wide-format printing to your current product mix is to boost your profits. But there are other factors to consider. For example, wide-format: 

• Can complement your existing offset and digital printing equipment and products

• Is relatively inexpensive compared to expansion into other segments

• Requires colour management expertise – an area where commercial printers excel

• Is typically purchased from OEMs with whom you’re already familiar

• Can be learned quickly due to the high automation of today’s presses

• Can be a value-added great talking point for your sales staff

• Demand is expected to continue even after the pandemic

• Allows you to print only the amount needed to reduce waste 

Benefits for your customers and their businesses

Today, more and more companies are turning to wide-format print suppliers to help them grow. The reasons are clear and proven. Wide-format:

• Is being adopted by more and more businesses to help them grow as well

• Surprising affordability makes wide-format a popular choice

• Helps businesses develop their own marketing materials

• Is traditionally a key part of advertising agencies’ multimedia campaigns

• High-visibility graphics deliver brand messages with much more impact

• Creates exceptionally crisp and clear images viewable from a distance

• An ideal way for your clients to stand out from their competition, especially as events

• Can withstand constant outdoor exposure to varying weather conditions

• Clients can get the same quick turnovers as your day-to-day digital printing

• Can handle a much wider array of applications in addition to posters and signage

  (i.e. vehicle wraps, window films, wall and floor graphics, wallpaper, textiles, etc.)

Questions to ask before adding wide-format

• How much money am I willing to invest? Wide-format printers can range in price from several thousand dollars to more than $1 million, depending on the technology, size, degree of automation and what options you wish to add. Be realistic as to what you can afford, explore the technology and compare costs. The old cliché “built it and they will come” is a recipe for disaster.

• How much technology do I want? Survey your current core customers and determine the likelihood of selling them wide-format products. While it’s tempting to enter relatively new markets where digital printing is growing (such as textiles and interior décor), you might be better served by assessing the needs of your existing customers first, then gradually upselling them to wide format. Talk to your OEM first.

• What are my current production assets? Unlike many business expansions, moving into wide format is not that much of a reach for most successful commercial printers. In fact, you might already be producing applications that are appropriate for wide-format digital printing, such as posters or POP materials, albeit in a smaller format.

• Which applications should I pursue? A good place to start would be applications that are compatible with your existing equipment. Which applications will your current clients need in the future? For example, you may be producing direct-mail flyers for a retailer. So consider adding signage, banners, posters or displays. If you’re already producing posters, other rigid applications could be added, depending on the equipment you have.

• Will I experience excessive competition. Take a closer look at the market and its competitive environment. Who and how many are currently producing the applications you plan to offer? What are their capabilities? Do they specialize in these applications, or are they general commercial printers like you? What equipment do they have? What’s their capacity? Is the application growing? What are the current profit margins? Are they close to you geographically?

Once you’ve identified a few appropriate applications, it’s time to look at the equipment that’s suitable and fits you budget. What substrates do you need to print on? Do you need a flatbed, roll-to-roll, or a hybrid device? What are the ink requirements? Will it fit easily onto your production floor? How much automation will be needed? What production volumes are anticipated? Will its workflow fit seamlessly into your current production workflow? Are there any environmental or waste-disposal issues? How steep is the learning curve for operators? Ask these questions before taking the plunge.

Wide-format market opportunities

• Traditional signage. According to most studies, printed signage (as opposed to digital signage) is still the most widely used form of signage worldwide. This market is primarily separated into indoor and outdoor, with indoor applications currently dominant. Overall, cost-effectiveness remains one of the main factors driving printed signage. Static billboards are still one of the most visible and predominant outdoor signage applications – but they’ve been losing some ground to more customizable, interactive and eye-catching options. That being said, most experts agree that traditional static billboards will not disappear any time soon. In fact, the combined use of printed and digital applications simultaneously is gaining prominence in certain business segments.

• Textiles. The digital textile inkjet printing market continues to be one of the top growth markets worldwide. Inkjet’s previously narrow focus on textile sample books and high-value soft signage that lasted for over a decade has evolved. Today, continuous breakthroughs in inkjet productivity, plus the emergence of the ‘fast- fashion’ business model from retailers, has spawned major advances in production inkjet textile printing. The most common forms of textile printing are dye-sublimation or transfer printing and DTG or direct-to-garment printing. Today’s inkjet textile printers can reach amazing levels of vibrancy, durability and quality of detail. However, traditional wide-format inkjet printers (solvent, eco-solvent, UV and latex) are also versatile enough to handle textile printing. Issues in this sector involve print quality, durability, the best types of fabrics to print on, light-fastness, cleaning and scratch resistance. If you’re a commercial printer, you can invest in an economical desktop printer, all the way up to a larger, more sophisticated device that can accommodate numerous higher-end applications.

• Packaging. The inkjet packaging market, including packaging prototypes, is another lucrative market. This includes flexible packaging, labels, folding cartons and other applications. For example, several equipment manufacturers now offer inkjet systems specifically designed for small-run packaging as well as high-volume label production. Some inkjet models are also being integrated with flexo units to create hybrid label production. Plus, hybrid presses with inkjet print heads can also apply variable data. This could lead to the adoption of inkjet in this sector more quickly.

• Corrugated. Wide-format printing for corrugated folding cartons is a market that’s moving quickly to inkjet from its traditional domain of flexo. New inkjet presses can now deliver single-pass printing that includes cyan, magenta, yellow, black, orange, violet, and white LED-cured inks. Many experts see this as a game-changer. Also, a wider selection of available corrugated substrates has created an environment for growth. Variable-data versioning, last-minute changes, rapid responses to customer demands, and accelerated time-to-market are driving forces in this sector.

• Interior décor. The décor market for homes, corporate offices, hotels, cruise ships and restaurants has opened up new opportunities for any print shop with a wide-format inkjet printer. This includes wallpaper, wall hangings, furniture, drapes, shower curtains, window decorations, paintings on canvas and a host of other non-traditional materials. Reasons for this continued growth include a real estate market that continues to hold its own, increased availability of home décor products via the internet, growing consumer preferences towards more eco-friendly products, higher disposable family incomes, and more homeowners wishing to renovate their houses.

• Industrial. Industrial inkjet printing applications continue to experience growth. These include home décor and laminates, ceramics, electronics, glass, aerospace, automotive, biomedical, and more. All of these can be printed using a variety of specialized analogue methods as well as inkjet technology. While new equipment has expanded specific applications, new inks, coatings and functional fluids are also becoming widespread. While analogue printing methods are still widely used, digital inkjet is gaining ground in industrial printing.

• Photography and fine art. Wide-format inkjet equipment manufacturers have rolled out some amazing technology to spur growth in this area. Museum-grade fine-art prints, small-format and large-format full-colour and B&W photographic prints, art cards and other high-end products can now be produced cost-efficiently. The OEMs have also taken particular care to ensure they that their digital printers can accommodate the non-traditional media used in this sector – such as cotton rag media, premium photo papers, exhibition-grade canvas, and a variety of unique coated and uncoated stocks popular in this segment.

• Specialty. Many printers consider specialty printing to include printing on items such as magnets, die-cut coasters, door hangers, clothing bags, wedding invitations, name tags, tabbed booklets, laminated or plastic business cards, as well as printing on non-traditional substrates such as glass, wood, ceramics, polyester, linen papers, lanyards etc. That being said, many shops differentiate specialty printing from promotional items such as personalized mugs, t-shirts, calendars and napkins, birth announcements, gifts, photo printing and more. Some have even utilized special-effect printing such as engraving, embossing or foil stamping. And while printed items in this sector usually involve shorter personalized runs, this market still represents significant revenue opportunities. Inkjet equipment manufacturers have also facilitated growth by developing presses that can print easily onto differently shaped, non-flat objects and other non-traditional media.