Technology Developments in Industrial Print Provide Dealers Expanded Opportunities for Growth

Technology developments and an expanding array of new printing applications in industrial printing provide the independent dealer channel unmatched opportunities to revitalize their business. That was the central takeaway at The Cannata Report’s co-located event at GRAPH EXPO 16 titled Dealer Opportunities and Strategies for Expansion in Industrial Printing held Tuesday.

“Industrial printing represents the leading growth and profit opportunity for dealers in the world of print,” said Frank G. Cannata, Analyst, President and Editor-in-Chief. “The timing is perfect as the leading tier one manufacturers Canon, Konica Minolta, and Ricoh either have launched or will begin providing commercial print products this year.”

The Cannata Report, the leading media resource for the independent office products, workflow solutions, and business technology dealer channel, hosted a panel of industry leaders to showcase industrial printing as a viable growth position for the independent dealer channel. According to Frank G. Cannata, and CJ Cannata, Analyst, EVP, and Publisher, this year’s program, designed to further the dialogue initiated at GRAPH EXPO 15, detailed a clear action plan for dealers.

Steve Urmano, Director of Wide Format, InfoTrends, delivered a keynote presentation that made a strong case for dealers to enter the industrial space, citing a number of industry growth drivers:

• Shifting trends in consumer goods that require just-in-time print solutions across a number of industry segments, among them packaging and label printing
• Developments in wide format technology and the vast array of emerging applications, from laminates and glass to apparel and décor
• The latest innovations with specialty UV printed applications

According to Urmano, dealers must constantly assess new technologies, their regional market needs, and their own capabilities to ensure success in their new enterprise in the industrial print arena.

Also participating on the panel was Fred Carollo, VP, Everbank Commercial Finance, who detailed customized financing solutions that make entry into the industrial print space an achievable enterprise for all dealers. Dave Perrotta, Director, Business Manager, AMETEK Electronic Systems Protection (ESP), presented an overview of how dealers can use an industrial protection portfolio to protect mission critical industrial print solutions. 

“After attending drupa 2016 and GRAPH EXPO 16, it is clear major traditional MFP manufacturers are spending more than a substantial amount of their R&D dollars on high-volume/digital/industrial printers, a sure sign where they are hedging their bets for the future,” CJ Cannata said in his closing remarks . “Dealers need to pay attention to this. Expanding their imaging businesses outside of the office is essential to dealers’ long-term viability and success. Industrial printing is one future growth opportunity in imaging that they should consider.” 

Senior level executives from Canon, EFI, HP, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, and Ricoh, as well as top-level industry executives from the software and services segment, attended the event. Scott Cullen, Managing Editor of The Cannata Report, closed the event with a Q&A session.