Going wide: Facing the opportunities – and challenges – of wide format print

Digital Printer explores the world of wide-format print as an enabler for businesses looking to thrive.

The wide- and large-format print market is a dynamic space where innovation is as much about workflow and sustainability as it is about print size and technology. Once seen as a specialist segment, it is now a central revenue stream for many print service providers eager to diversify, differentiate, and find certainty in uncertain times.

Today, PSPs are expecting more from their equipment. More applications, faster turnaround times, greener operation, and tighter cost control – all without sacrificing quality. As a result, OEMs are evolving their offerings to meet these expectations with faster and more flexible machines, along with integrated digital ecosystems that balance productivity with environmental responsibility. But is it enough to help those on the front line overcome the obstacles the industry is facing?

Real-world pressures, real-time expectations

One of the biggest pressures facing PSPs in their buying decisions right now is cost versus performance. Tom Owers, business manager commercial and industrial at Epson UK, points to “increasingly tight turnaround times, a persistent shortage of skilled labour, rising substrate and material costs, and growing expectations regarding sustainability” as key challenges. He adds: “Meeting these demands while maintaining profitability and quality is a delicate balancing act for many PSPs.”

Julian Mennell, national hardware sales manager at InkTec, agrees. He sees PSPs turning to automation and workflow optimisation to help tackle these challenges by reducing waste and cost, and simplify their operations. “The current critical challenges facing wide and large format print service providers is cost,” he says. “PSPs are increasingly keen to opt for kit that features automation and AI-driven solutions that can streamline workflows, reduce errors, and enhance productivity.”

A broader perspective on the market sees two distinct paths appearing in response to these challenges. Arjen Evertse, director sales at Mimaki Europe, says: “It’s the larger businesses who are trying to scale, and to do that scaling they’re looking for more productivity and also more efficiency… and then there are the smaller businesses who actually get impacted by those larger businesses scaling up, because it’s taking away some of their existing jobs. Due to that they see a need to diversify their product offering, so they can grow their business based on their existing customer base.”

The Jetrix XAR320 combines flatbed and roll-to-roll functions to boost versatility

If wide format machines offer answers in terms of productivity and diversification, what do they bring to the table in terms of sustainability? What was once a niche offering to attract environmentally conscious clients, sustainability has now become a fundamental business requirement. Customers expect recyclable and low-VOC (volatile organic compound) consumables. They expect full transparency across supply chains. They expect responsible business practices. To meet these expectations, Epson, for example, now includes refillable tanks, precision ink systems, and compact printer designs in its wide format portfolio that reduce energy use and material waste throughout the product lifecycle.

“Our printers feature high-yield ink systems, including ink bags and refillable tanks that reduce the environmental impact of traditional cartridge use,” says Mr Owers. “Precision droplet placement and variable dot sizing minimise ink waste, while compact printer designs reduce both energy consumption and raw material use.”

Mr Evertse at Mimaki sees the sustainability challenge as a collective effort. “There’s no one solution for the sustainability issue,” he says. “It’s all those little things we can do all together which then contribute to the bigger picture.”

Perceptions vs realities

So where does this all leave the wide format market?

Despite major advances in image quality, ink efficiency, and substrate diversity, wide format printing still suffers from outdated perceptions. “A common misconception is that wide-format printing is only viable for high-volume production or limited to traditional signage,” says Mr Owers. “In reality, wide-format technology is a highly versatile solution supporting any scale – big or small.”

This belief that wide-format systems are only suited to large operations is clearly outdated. Mr Mennell notes: “It’s often assumed that wide-format solutions are only viable for large operations, when in fact, modular and compact systems now make it entirely accessible for smaller print shops looking to expand their services and profitability.”

To stay competitive in difficult times, PSPs are looking to invest in systems that combine versatility and sustainability with ease of use, and OEMs are answering that call. Epson’s SC-V1000 flatbed UV LED printer, for example, is designed for compact environments while offering high-quality output on a range of rigid and flexible media. Meanwhile, its Monna Lisa ML 16000JQ is pushing the boundaries of textile innovation, enabling print on sustainable materials like banana and coconut fibre fabric with exceptional quality.

“The Monna Lisa ML-16000JQ is a significant leap forward in textile innovation,” says Mr Owers. “It simplifies traditionally labour-intensive processes and delivers vibrant, high-quality output on a broad spectrum of materials.”

InkTec, too, is placing an emphasis on modular versatility and real-world usability. Its latest Jetrix GUI simplifies nesting, improves ink tracking, and helps reduce overspray. “Our advanced GUI is designed to optimise media usage by allowing users to easily map and reposition images, ensuring maximum efficiency with minimal material waste,” says Mr Mennell.

Mimaki has launched new ink ranges to support sustainable printing, including EcoSolvent inks and UV inks that are free from CMR (carcinogenic, mutagenic, reprotoxic) substances.

“We believe we are the first manufacturer to introduce completely CMR free UV inks,” says Mr Evertse.

Sustainability as standard

With environmental responsibility now a baseline expectation across the board, along with cost-saving energy use reduction, PSPs are keen to find options that meet the highest eco-standards in every department. Once again, the manufacturers are keen to highlight their credentials in this area.

Epson’s proprietary PrecisionCore printhead technology, for example, delivers high-resolution output with minimal ink waste thanks to precise droplet placement and variable dot sizing. New ink systems are also replacing conventional cartridges to reduce waste and carbon footprints.

InkTec also reports strong uptake of its sustainability features. Built-in primers reduce the need for chemical pre-treatment, and easy-to-use GUIs support smarter layout planning to make the most of each substrate roll. In the eld, features that make adjustments on-the-y or reprints without test sheets can prevent significant waste. “Our specially formulated inks now include built-in primers, enabling better adhesion across a wider range of substrates without the need for pre-treatment,” Mr Mennell explains.

Growth through adaptability

Looking ahead, the ability to quickly pivot between job types, offer customisation and short runs, and to scale efficiently will be key in wide-format applications. “The demand for rapid turnarounds and personalisation is opening up new revenue streams for PSPs that can offer responsive services tailored to local needs,” says Mr Owers.

Mimaki believes this will be matched by deeper integration of customisation technology: “What still needs to come is the next big leap in personalisation,” says Mr Evertse. “Big brand owners are looking into personalisation at scale and in-store personalisation experiences in the retail industry, which also will largely contribute to the printing industry.”

Simplicity will also be key. InkTec cites the case of their customer, splashback manufacturer Colour 2 Glass, which upgraded its workflow by switching to a Jetrix LXa5 printer with white ink channels. This enabled printing directly onto glass in one pass, removing the need for a spray booth and slashing both prep time and operational costs.

With applications ranging from short-run décor, custom retail graphics, and direct to-object printing, wide-format technology is becoming the gateway to diversified, sustainable, and localised production. The wide-format offering is no longer simply a matter of print size, but of business opportunity and imagination.

“Print providers aren’t just investing in equipment,” says Mr Mennel, “they’re investing in the ability to evolve”.