Printing United Expo brings back those photofinishing vibes … with a twist

As the unified North American show for the printing industry, Printing United has gained prominence over the past few years as the destination to see and touch the latest in output technologies. This year’s show was massive, drawing 24,969 registered attendees and 800 exhibitors from 115 countries. Considering this was also a drupa year, the turnout was particularly impressive, a sentiment echoed by show management.

“With the many concurrent events taking place, as well as 2024 being a ‘drupa year,’ we were really pleased with the crowds, but even more so, with the impressive volume of groundbreaking equipment running live on the show floor and, not surprisingly as a result, the sales being reported,” says Mark J. Subers, president, Events and Exhibitions, PRINTING United Alliance. “We had nearly five million pounds of equipment on the floor this year. Many attendees were able to see the newest technology for the first time ever in North America which was a huge highpoint for them.”

The three-day Expo, held Sept. 10-12 at the ever-expanding Las Vegas Convention Center, encompassed 385,600 square feet in the Central and South Halls. Photo industry members who remember the Photo Marketing Association (PMA) conventions in the 1990s and 2000s would find the show to be oddly familiar.  Walking floor, it was like being transported back to the heyday of the photofinishing industry, with big displays from Agfa Corp., APS Imaging Solutions, Inc., Canon U.S.A., Inc., Colex, Durst Image Technology US, EFI, Epson America Inc., Fotoba International, Fujifilm, HP, Imaging Solutions, Konica Minolta, LogoJet, Mactac, Mimaki, Quality Media and Laminating Solutions, Ricoh USA, Roland DGA Corp., Sharp, Taopix, Xerox Corp., and many more. (You’d almost expect to turn the corner and see a big Hostert Fotomata or Gretag booth from the 1990s.)

But as much as some would like to return to the days of two-for-one prints and next-day-or-free, the current incarnation of the photo printing sector is showing great signs of growth and expansion. Here are some trends observed at the show

The network is the effect – Gelato has come on strong with the launch of its GelatoConnect platform, which accentuates the need for robust print production networks for networks seeking to fill their presses. The in-the-aisles discussions displayed their concerns about the path the U.S. and global economy will take. Between an anticipated economic slowdown and the relentless drive for efficiency and automation, news of consolidations was on everyone’s mind.

Apparel is just another printing surface – One of the most robust areas of the giant exhibition was the apparel section that dominated the South Hall. The direct-to-film and direct-t0-garment equipment on display was jam-packed with interested buyers. With print-on-demand now reaching the garment industry, the fashion world is now catching up with the idea, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs of all sizes.

“We’re leaving Las Vegas energized and focused,” said Ilan Elad, president of Kornit Americas. in a press release. “Kornit’s presence at PRINTING United confirmed our leadership in the digital apparel and fashion print transformation. With the first-ever Apollo showcase in the Americas and strong endorsements of MAX quality from our customers, it’s clear we’re driving the industry towards a sustainable, on-demand future. The momentum from last week—new leads, closed deals, and strengthened partnerships—positions us for even greater success in Q4 and beyond. Kornit is leading the way, and the impact is already visible.”

Substrates becoming more versatile, opening up new markets – Probably one of the most interesting aspects is the explosive growth of different substrates, allowing for photo-quality printing on mugs, drink containers, flat surfaces, curved surfaces, and even vehicles. There’s a lot happening in this segment and we look forward to bring you updates over the next few months.

And last but not least, there’s still innovation in fine-art inkjet. At least for this photo printing fancier, the first look at the new Epson SureColor P20570 fine-art printer was among the highlights of the show. The 64-inch printer, which was the recipient of the PRINTING United Pinnacle Product of the Year award in the “roll-to-roll aqueous printer (under 80-inches) category, offers a 12-channel printhead and Epson UltraChrome PRO12 ink to deliver the widest color gamut in its class and industry-leading print permanence. The cost is $11,295, with ink sold separately. The printer aims to meet the needs of fine art printmakers and production environments. In the video below, Marc Aguilera, product manager at Epson America, discusses the evolution of the Epson Stylus Pro 64-inch wide photo printer, highlighting its major design changes, including a door to protect the print zone from dust and a maintenance system for easy cleaning. The printer uses a 12-color ink system with a 1.6-liter eight-pack, reducing plastic waste by 90% compared to previous cartridges. It features a touch panel display for ease of use and new RIP software for nesting multiple files. The printer costs $11,295, with ink sold separately, and includes a full set of ink for immediate use. It also supports the Graph Tech cutter for Toba marks.

Mark your calendars for PRINTING United Expo 2025 which will be held Oct. 22-24, 2025, in Orlando, Florida.