Special Report


TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW Technology is essential for many businesses within the industry and is only really bought or replaced when absolutely needed due to the big investment it usually carries for a company. However, it was reassuring to see that more than 55% of respondents reported that they were expecting to invest in hardware/software in the next year. For those that said they were aiming to invest in the next year, more than 40% said that they would invest between £20,000 and £75,000 for their new technology, a 16% increase from last year.


In an intriguing result from last year, 19% of PSPs voted Epson and Mimaki as the most innovative manufacturer. Roland DG, who were voted most innovative last year, were hot on their heels in second at 17%. Phil McMullin, head of sales C&I and BS, Epson UK, said: “It is encouraging to receive this recognition from the print professionals and businesses we work with, and we believe it reflects our continued focus on innovation that helps PSPs improve efficiency, explore new applications and generate profitable revenue streams.” Commenting on the results from the survey, Andy Gergory, sales director at Hybrid Services, said: “At Hybrid, what we consistently hear is that Mimaki technology helps businesses respond to market changes and customer demands with confidence.”


ENVIRONMENT OVERVIEW While manufacturers, distributors and print service providers all focus on delivering the best products and services they can, the topic of the environment is usually pushed aside.


With the climate in a state of crisis, the industry should be aiming to do what it can to mitigate the waste and environmental impact it has on the climate, but that is easier said than done. When asked what their biggest priority for the next year is, only 4% of respondents reported that they were focused on sustainability – whether it was because they had measures in place or were not worried about it currently is another matter. However, the minute amount of respondents who mentioned sustainability should be a sign to the industry to put sustainability at the forefront of their minds more. The survey found that 81% of PSPs said that it


was important for their company to be seen as environmentally friendly, which was a 4% decrease from last year’s survey results.


This could be due to the fact that more than three-quarters of PSPs reported that less than 25% of their customers ask for their environmental credentials and procedures, highlighting that maybe it’s not the printers and their practices, but perhaps the end user that is the problem when tackling sustainability issues within the industry. To find out more about the survey results, the 2026 Widthwise report is now available in print and at Image Report’s website.


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