Business | Diversification
DIVERSIFICATION 2026: 3D PRINTING
CONTINUING THE SERIES OF
DIVERSIFICATION IN PRINTING, IMAGE
REPORTS IS PLEASED TO COVER 3D PRINTING AND THE STRENGTHS IT CAN GIVE A PRINT SERVICE PROVIDER LOOKING TO DIVERSIFY INTO A NEW FRONTIER.
Mimaki 3DUJ-2270 3D printer
While not typically applicable to wide-format printers, for those that want to expand into other printing areas for customers and to keep exploring and learning – 3D printing is a great way to diversify, but it can also include extra costs, for instance machinery. Traditionally associated with manufacturing and prototyping, the technology is now opening new opportunities for print service providers (PSPs) that want to expand beyond conventional two-dimensional output. However, for those keen to get into 3D printing and offer it as a service, key manufacturers including Roland DG, Mimaki and HP are all capable of helping find the right machinery for you and your clientele. The possibilities of offering 3D printing good for clients and customers is immeasurable – especially for those looking to branch out into promotional objects.
MIMAKI’S RISE OF 3D UV INK PRINTING An innovative way to use UV gel, would be Mimaki’s 3DUJ-2207 3D printer, which can reproduce more than 10 million colours, create realistic skin tones, subtle gradients and fine details. The modelling technology utilised is UV-curable inkjet printing, and allows printers the chance to print in clear and colour inks. This is a great introductory piece of 3D printing equipment as it’s compact and allows for PSPs to understand what they want to achieve with their 3D printing offering little by little. It focuses more specifically on personalised goods, models and smaller pieces – which can allow a PSP
28 | June/July 2026
to offer a client a model of their product before it is finished or a offer personalised piece alongside wider signage and graphics, for instance, a client asks for window graphics, a 3D printed object that could do along side that could be store numbers or a name – or for something within the shop a business card holder. A recent use of the Mimaki 3D printer comes from Hybrid Services and its partnership with Crewe Alexander F.C. To help the football club and Hybrid see the vision of the new football kit or the 2026-27 season, they used the 3D printer to create a miniature version of club captain Mickey Demetriou using high-fidelity 3D scanning and full colour 3D printing technology. Mickey was scanned at the club using an Artec Leo 3D Scanner from Europac 3D, first in the outgoing shirt and then again in the new home kit. The model that was created by the Mimaki technology was then used in the club’s campaign for the new kit. James Beckett, head of commercial for Crewe Alexandra, said: “We’re constantly amazed at the capabilities of the various Mimaki technologies, and ever since we first saw the full colour 3D printer in action, we had an idea to somehow include it in a big production for the club.”
HP JET FUSION AND FUNCTIONAL PLASTIC PRINTING Another wide-format manufacturer that produces 3D printing hardware is HP. HP’s Jet Fusion 5000 3D printer is certainly noteworthy as it prints with a polymer, and has
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