The printing industry consists of companies that are operating by commercial establishments in printing for education, textile, metal, glass and plastic materials for various sectors. Over the last decade, the printing industry has had numerous challenges from tackling different issues such as many industries migrating to digital medium for publishing solutions and increasing different printing processes, including screen, flexographic, letterpress, gravure and digital. Technology in the printing industry evolves as the suppliers of printing equipments manufacturers do with their innovations. The growth in printing industry is expected to continue steadily but with online and digital printing segments in variety of sectors, many consumers will find convenience and possible lower prices in digital sector much preferable.

Technology in the Printing industry tends to be influenced by suppliers such as printing equipment manufacturers. As new innovations continue, growth is expected in online and digital printing segments, which offer customers convenience and potentially lower prices. Companies in this industry are primarily engaged in printing on paper, textile, metal, glass and plastic materials. Printing industry comprises commercial and job printing establishments, and it includes commission printing of paper stationery and printing onto textiles or other surfaces. There are barriers to enter into printing industry in a competitive times such as these, especially when one of the most significant barriers to entry is capital investment in either offset or digital printing presses. In addition, the printing industry has struggled over the last decade as the consumers are increasingly favoring digital alternatives such as online media where the convenience plays an important and vital role in attracting larger base of consumers.

The printing industry is expected to maintain stability in the growing digital market amid number of companies prepared to face the declining demand. Consumer service companies are suffering massive loss of sales, profits and overall capability in gathering confidence as the pressure might intensify. This resulting in house-holds cutting their spending budgets,entertainment, catering, travel industries strategizing their annual budgets. The economy also impacts the printing industry in a number of ways as the adverse economic conditions result in companies cutting back on advertising expenditure as well as food manufacturers cutting back on packaging costs. This will have a negative impact on printing industry resulting in lesser demand and more basic labor work. The import of printed products into Europe and North America is increasing at a rapid rate due to lower costs from other countries.

2 . Printing Industry Current Trends

The Printing industry is facing a lot of crunch since the diverse and innovative digital medium came into existence. Newer forms of media, such as digital have been leeching away printing industry's demands. The printing industry's revenues are estimated to decline at an average annual rate of 5.2% by the end of 2013. The global printing industry revenue is expected to be US $77.7 billion. There are number of issues affecting printing industry and the establishments such as 3D printing are adding to more woes as the versatile and incredibly innovative technologies are paving themselves a strong path into the market.

However, there are few implications where the printing industry can sustain, such as

• Digital color printing as the InfoTrends research forecasts an increase of revenue to $39.5 billion by 2016 in North America.
• Digital Wide Format printing evolution.
• Inkjet solutions that offer greater speed, quality and finishing with competitive pricing. Major Inkjet growth is expected from books, direct mail and brochure printing.
• Digital presses that support new and high margin substrates, rugged synthetics, special media, pressure sensitive stocks and ready to print dimensional stocks and photobook media.
• Web-to-Print marketing supply chains
• Hyper-Personalization
• Mobile Marketing and Direct mail and Social Media coverages.

3 . Major Printing Industry Players

Major players in the Printing industry are Saunders, Sratasys, 3D Systems, Harper Collins and Penguin.