Sign up for The Key Point of View, our weekly newsletter of blogs and podcasts!
The 2024 edition of the PRINTING United Expo opened its doors on September 10 in Las Vegas. The South Hall, catering to textile- and large format-oriented audiences, saw substantial foot traffic while, on the commercial print side, vendors were generally spread across Hall C (which gave it a sparse appearance at times). Still, booths remained busy during peak hours and exhibitors provided positive feedback. That said, was there a sense of “tradeshow fatigue” lingering across the show in a drupa year?
While attendance felt somewhat lighter than last year’s in Atlanta, exhibitors seemed satisfied. This may point to the makeup of attendees, which possibly slanted towards more decision-makers wielding buying power rather than lots of visitors who wanted to browse rather than buy. In today’s busy world, the trend towards quality of attendees—who are signaling serious buying intent—makes tradeshows more effective for direct business engagement.
We will be publishing a detailed show report very soon. In the meantime, here are some of our analysts’ impressions and insights on what they discovered at PRINTING United Expo 2024.
German Sacristan, Principal Analyst of On Demand Printing & Publishing
On the commercial side, no major technologies breakthroughs were expected but there were some notable updates. Fujifilm and Konica Minolta’s joint venture remains delayed due to competition law reviews, but the announcement has generated buzz. Fujifilm also revealed a new dealer/channel partnership with Marco Technologies LLC, which is set to sell Fujifilm’s entire production portfolio. Marco Technologies is also a Konica Minolta dealer; therefore, the company will sell both products side-by-side.
Xerox introduced the PrimeLink 9200 Series and revealed a strategic shift away from hardware manufacturing to focus on third party equipment sourcing as well as bringing differentiation and additional value through software and customer development. Konica Minolta unveiled the AccurioPress C12010S and C14010S, set for a 2025 release, that features improved reliability and color accuracy. In finishing, GBC unveiled the fastest inline laminator on the market that is capable of processing up to 120 A4 sheets per minute, streamlining lamination workflows.
Eric Zimmerman, Principal Analyst of Wide Format Printing
In wide format, we saw several higher throughput devices making their North American debut after earlier launches at European tradeshows and alongside new products for the small office and entry-level markets. Canon presented its imagePROGRAF TX series and TZ-32000, an affordable entry point for print service providers (PSPs) looking to expand into indoor signage while adding color versatility to AEC applications. Epson launched the SureColor S9170, a redesigned 11-color eco-solvent printer that’s positioned at the top of Epson's SureColor lineup, and the V1070 A4 UV desktop printer for small batches of direct-to-object prints.
Mimaki debuted the JFX200-1213EX, a 4' x 4' compact flatbed printer with braille printing capabilities, as well as the CJV200 eco-solvent printer line that employs SS22 redesigned eco-friendly inks and an eco-friendly paper cartridge system. Mutoh officially entered the print/cut eco-solvent market with the XpertJet C641SR, a 24" device designed for producing die-cut vinyl stickers and various heat transfer applications.
Johnny Shell, Principal Analyst of Textile and Apparel Printing
Textile printing saw a strong global presence with 20% of exhibitors from China, the highest representation for this show ever. Epson showcased the SureColor F9570H, which delivers a print speed of 1,590 m²/hr and offers flexible ink configurations for a wide range of applications.
Mimaki introduced the TS330-3200DS, which supports dye-sublimation and direct-to-textile processes. They also introduced the TxF300-1600 DTF printer that uses OEKO-TEX-certified inks and increases speed by 130%, ideal for interior fabrics. Kornit’s Apollo DTG printer made its North American debut, already installed in 12 locations across the continent, promising scalability and efficiency. M&R’s Polaris DTG system now features a dot-on-dot pretreatment process that reduces chemical use, cuts production costs, and enhances garment feel.
DTF technology took center stage with the reintroduction of powderless systems, streamlining workflows and improving environmental conditions by eliminating powder adhesives. Companies like DuPont, SunChemical, and Felix Schoeller displayed advanced DTF inks and sustainable paper solutions, underscoring the industry’s commitment to sustainability.
Greg Cholmondeley, Principal Analyst of Workflow Automation and Software
Production workflow software advancements were less impressive, with most products still in development. However, there were some new solutions presented: OneVision demonstrated its promising Stations workflow tool, but still requires significant improvement before launch. Markzware introduced the pre-release MarkzPortal, a Canva app for generating print-ready PDFs and other file types with 79 active subscribers submitting 600 files last month. BCC Software presented Architect REACH, a cloud-based postal cleansing and presorting tool, and HP introduced Live Production for wide-format that offers remote job monitoring and job queue reprioritization across multiple registered printers.
Fiery showcased the InkWise app for ink management and Fiery Ticketing Assistant, an AI-driven tool that converts free-text emails into job tickets, set to launch by year-end. Rochester Software Associates demonstrated proof-of-concept PointPrint software, enabling mobile print job submissions with QDirect to departmental printers or in-plants.
While these solutions are useful, many remain in development and AI’s potential in production workflows is still being explored. AI, while promising for concept development, continues to struggle with the accuracy and repeatability needed for production environments.
Keypoint Intelligence Opinion
As PRINTING United 2024 wrapped up, it was clear that the quality of attendees and the strategic focus of exhibitors made an impact, even in a year of lighter traffic. The event highlighted that companies are now prioritizing long-term investments and partnerships that deliver sustainable growth.
Stay tuned for our full review of the innovations unveiled at PRINTING United 2024.
Browse through our Industry Reports Page (latest reports only). Log in to the InfoCenter to view show reviews (including the forthcoming PRINTING United 2024 Analysis) as well as research and studies through our various Production-based Advisory Services. If you’re not a subscriber, just send us an email at sales@keypointintelligence.com for more info.
