A boom in the communication sector is said to have caused the increase in orders for signage, with offset's market share remaining stable and demand for screen methods falling.

The study shows that there is still confusion among print buyers as to which printing process to use. The study reads: "This suggests that printing companies would benefit from having all processes available in-house, with matching colour results, so that they could then use the process for each job that best suits their customer's needs and budget."

Screen printers are still the biggest producers of large-format prints behind offset. However, more than 40% of the members of European screen printing organisations have opted for a form of digital printing.

The study reads: "Smaller and less well-informed companies are losing share to digital printers and screen printers with digital experience [...] It will remain difficult for such screen printers to compete against XXL format offset printers."

All signage sectors are predicted to grow between 2008 and 2013. Posters, other temporary PoS and corporate graphics showed growth above 10% with only fine art reproduction, hot air balloons, marquees and other groups growing below 5%.

Figures on the projected worldwide usage of printing processes show digital printing will grow by 70% with the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the volume of digital printing set at 109%. This is put down to an expected price reduction of 19%/m2 between 2008 and 2013.

Elsewhere, a substantial growth in non-paper substrates is noted. This is attributed to the growth of wide-format digital printing, as screen printing is losing market share.

The study reads: "Nevertheless, it is believed that signage printing, especially by means of the digital processes, will not suffer as much as other specialties and the projections are therefore still quite respectable.

"Despite other economic considerations, Pira International foresees a CAGR over the next five years of 29.4%. Companies are predicting lower annual growth for the next five years than has been achieved over the past five years.

"Especially relevant is the fact that 2007–08 shows only a 4% increase, although this is also partly due to the present unstable economic conditions. Despite this, the same companies foresee subsequent higher growth of 6% per year through to 2013."