What do you feel were the main trends and key industry developments in 2023?
The demand for cutting edge technology when it comes to wide-format and production printing has grown significantly in 2023. As a leader and innovator in the inkjet market, Canon is committed to helping customers realise the economic, environmental and operational benefits of adopting inkjet technology.

Sustainability has also been high on the agenda this year, with an industry-wide push for greener technology and minimal waste, to help customers reach their net zero targets. At Canon, sustainability is a key consideration from the very start of the development of an inkjet press, with the use of recycled materials, an energy-efficient manufacturing process and elimination of hazardous substances where possible.

Additionally, the industry has seen media versatility become increasingly important as PSPs [print service providers] are looking to offer customers a diverse range of services and branch into a variety of markets, such as retail, manufacturing and interior decor. By providing PSPs with reliable equipment that harnesses automation, suppliers can empower them to streamline workflows and produce a wide range of bespoke materials under faster turnaround times, without the need to outsource.

In 2023, we’ve seen a particular demand for our Colorado M-series, a fully modular device for large-format graphics. This is due to its ability to print documents with high-opacity white ink, a variety of finishes, and speeds that are up to three times faster than comparable technologies.

How have the continuing economic and market specific challenges affected you and your customers during 2023 – have you had to do anything differently to adapt/react?
On the back of continued economic uncertainty, we’ve seen an increased demand for reduced total costs of ownership, with customers wanting to save on processing and running costs. Automation has been a key consideration here, delivering many cost-efficient benefits, while also addressing the challenges the industry is facing when it comes to skill shortages and staff retention.

As these economic challenges are likely to continue in 2024, it is important that suppliers provide partners with premium services and support. As a global leader, we at Canon are proud to be able to share our expertise and advice with our partners, mentoring the future leaders in print and helping them grow with reliable products and solutions.

What do you expect to be the main trends, key industry developments, and biggest opportunities for printers in 2024?
Aside from inkjet continuing to pave the way for new print technology in 2024, by delivering increased productivity, quality and cost-efficiency, there will also be a huge opportunity to break into new markets as the world reverts to pre-Covid times. However, this opportunity will be competitive, with customers looking for more unique products than ever before.

Therefore, we expect to see more PSPs tap into the trend of personalisation. With regards to the retail industry, this will mean offering customers a more diverse range of marketing material, from targeted direct mail to large-scale posters, signage and banners.

When it comes to interior decor, this trend towards more personalisation of various applications is strongly reflected in the way people decorate their living and working environments. Wallpaper, murals, and other large-scale decor elements will continue to represent an exploding global market in 2024. This is why we’ve worked hard to make our UVgel Wallpaper Factory fully automated, as a modular production facility that generates digitally printed wallpaper: from the bulk-sized media input straight through to the finished rolled output.

What are your hopes and expectations for Drupa 2024?
With the first Drupa in eight years taking place in 2024, we at Canon are excited to be back at this major event alongside some of the key players in the industry. We see this as a huge opportunity to not only showcase new technology, but also celebrate our achievements over the last few years. We also expect to see a lot of conversation around the advancement of inkjet technology and are excited to share our developments in this space.

How can suppliers better help printers navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities in 2024?
Working in true collaboration with partners means really listening to their needs and the needs of their customers. Stepping into the role of a trusted advisor for our partners has meant becoming familiar with every layer of their business and understanding their specific requirements, as well as ways they could potentially innovate and optimise for the future.

Suppliers must be involved at every step of the partner process, from identifying the challenge or opportunity, to finding the right machine for the job, and ensuring it is running at peak performance. In 2024, PSPs will most likely need the most support when it comes to offering more diverse mediums and substrates to showcase their design capability, or improving the automation and efficiency of their workflows for faster turnaround times.

Note: This prediction is taken from a special Briefing article in the new issue of Printweek featuring insights from industry suppliers, hence it does not follow the same question template as the other predictions.