Widthwise 2024


This year’s Widthwise poll data posed a few more questions, which we put to a selection of the large-format sector’s equipment manufacturers. This is how they responded…


Duncan Smith,


Country director, production, Canon UK and Ireland


Kevin Jenner,


European marketing manager, Fujifilm Wide Format Inkjet Systems


We’re seeing a steady increase in the demand for wide- format print as print service providers look to diversify their offering, and more businesses bring their production printing in-house. Meeting this demand is a key priority for us at Canon, and our wide-format devices have only become more central to our portfolio. Just at Drupa we witnessed first-hand the increasing appetite for wide- format print. Our stand featured several new wide-format devices, including the imagePrograf Pro and GP series and the PlotWave and ColourWave series. With these new devices we’re able to address all customer needs.


However, in light of ongoing changes across the market, the most important thing is for manufacturers to invest in customer relationships, ensuring that PSPs feel supported by a trusted and reliable wide-format provider, through expert counsel and advice.


Yes, in line with positivity across Europe we do expect decent growth in UK market over the next two years. We expect to see increased ink usage and maybe an increase in enquiries for systems sales.


Erskine Stewart,


Managing director, swissQprint UK


We are confident in the continued growth of the UK’s wide- format print market. swissQprint UK’s recent performance underscores this optimism, with double-digit growth in our installation base and increasing average ink usage per machine, which reflects the rising demand and activity among swissQprint owners.


The market’s competitive nature drives print businesses to invest in innovative products that enhance quality and productivity. This trend is evident in our sales figures and the expanding output of our customers. By differentiating their offerings through superior quality, efficiency, and unique applications, print businesses are not only growing but also delivering high-quality creative solutions to their clients.


In summary, we anticipate the wide-format market to expand in the coming years, and we expect this growth to continue translating into increased opportunities our customers.


Artificial Intelligence will no doubt have a transformative impact on the printing industry, enabling PSPs to deliver high-quality print jobs under even tighter turnaround times. At Canon, we’re excited to see how the conversation around AI develops, and we’re committed to embracing this technology with a customer-centric approach. To engage in these conversations, we’re prepared to implement AI into our research and development strategy.


Firstly, AI offers so much to image creation and manipulation allowing designers to dream up imagery from simple ideas/instructions. Images can also be easily scaled at high quality. I think this will lead to new and exciting applications.


By analysing customer behaviours and preferences companies will be able to create more personalised and more impactful marketing campaigns. Businesses gather vast amounts of data but generally don’t do much with it. AI offers the possibility to analyse and process large volumes of data to improve production planning and inventory management. Ultimately it will deliver faster turnarounds and improved productivity.


Advances in AI present substantial opportunities in the wide-format print sector. We’ve observed clients leveraging AI for customer service, business intelligence, and marketing. Notably, AI’s application in artwork generation stands out. Companies lacking in-house creative design capabilities are using AI tools to create compelling pitches, samples, and new direct-to-consumer products.


The disparity between the high expectations for AI’s impact and the low investment intent highlighted in the poll reflects the current uncertainty surrounding AI. As the technology evolves rapidly, it’s understandable that businesses are adopting a cautious approach to investment. Operating on the cutting edge carries inherent risks, and it’s prudent for companies to thoroughly assess AI’s potential before committing significant resources.


www.imagereports.co.uk | Widthwise 2024 | 23


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