7 Trends I’m Excited to Learn About at PRINTING United Expo

By Toni McQuilken

With just a few weeks to go until PRINTING United Expo, the largest printing industry trade show in the United States, converges on Orlando, Florida (Oct. 22-24), I thought I would share some of the top trends and technologies I’m excited to see and talk about this year.

The Expo is a place for the entire industry to come together, no matter the segment, applications, technologies, or broad verticals a company serves. With more than 800 exhibitors and dozens of educational opportunities — not to mention all the networking events! — there is just not going to be enough time to see it all and it could get overwhelming fast. So, here are a few broad strokes you can keep in mind as you plan your own PRINTING United journey.

Tariffs will dominate conversations.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a supplier, a printer, or a print buyer, tariffs are top of mind for everyone right now. Whether that means figuring out how to ship your goods to your customers without having to raise prices, or perhaps how you’re wondering how to afford the supplies you need to complete jobs and still make money, or you are trying to figure out how to keep print in your budget as costs continue to rise — tariffs are going to come up.

Sadly, no one has a crystal ball to predict what the landscape will look like even a few weeks from now, much less into the next 12-18 months, but everyone will need to work together to try and mitigate the problems. There will be winners and losers when the dust finally settles, and if the printing industry as a whole wants to be on the winning side, having these conversations at events like PRINTING United Expo will make all the difference. This is a chance for everyone to find solutions that work to raise all the proverbial boats, and everyone will be eager to talk about how we move forward.

Automation can’t be ignored.

It’s been a refrain for years now, but across every segment of the printing industry, automation is going to be present. It will be in the new presses being introduced at the show. It will be in the software solutions. It will be in the finishing equipment, the prepress workflows, even estimating and sales. Automation is no longer a nice differentiator — it is a necessary component for a printing business to survive.

AI is everywhere.

No matter your personal feelings about the mad rush to incorporate AI into everything, there is no denying the proverbial train has left its station and there is no going back. Learning how to use and embrace it, rather than fight against it, will be critical.

And PRINTING United Expo will be a prime opportunity to do just that. The PRINTING AI Pavilion should be one of your stops as you walk the floor (Booth 4255) since that will bring together not only some of the vendors showcasing it as part of their solutions, but also research, training, and more all geared to help printers navigate this brave new world.

Beyond that, there are more than a dozen educational sessions that will dive into various aspects of implementing and using AI. A few standouts you don’t want to miss include:

And of course, there are many more. Be sure to check out the full list of educational sessions for this year’s show and start planning out which ones will be your must-attend so you don’t miss anything.

Color is a critical factor in every print job.

While color management has always been critical for some print jobs and segments of the industry, others have been content to settle for “good enough.” That is no longer the case. Now, whether it’s direct mail postcards, retail signage, vehicle wraps, billboards, or promotional items, brands expect consistency across the board.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned color management professional, or someone wanting to learn more so you can start having better color conversations with customers, the G7/G7+ Exchange happening the day before the Expo will be a tremendous resource. The half-day event will be a masterclass in everything you need to know about color quality and consistency, and ensuring you can meet client expectations every time.

Get hands-on training.

PRINTING United Expo isn’t just about seeing all the latest and greatest technologies — although that is certainly a big part of the experience — it is also about learning how to put that knowledge into practice. Yes, there are the educational sessions, but one thing I always look forward to is checking out the hands-on training and demonstrations that happen live on the show floor.

Two that stand out are the Apparel Zone, where Apparelist’s Print Paradise will offer it’s own unique educational sessions geared toward the apparel decoration side of the printing industry, but also demonstrations where you can get a far better feel for what it takes to add these technologies and applications to your own lineup. Whether you’re already an apparel decoration pro, you’ve added it but aren’t sure where to go from here, or you’re considering it for your operation, make sure to stop by and spend some time in this dedicated section of the show floor.

The second hands-on zone to check out is the PDAA Installer Zone, where you can not only see the various materials for wrapping and installing films and graphics, you can jump in and try it out for yourself! There will be many different surfaces to test your skills against, and even a mini competition that accepts anyone who wants to stop by and participate. Make sure this Zone is on your agenda or you’ll regret not stopping by.

Sustainability, robotics, and more.

While AI is certainly going to dominate conversations, don’t think it will be the only cutting-edge technology on the floor this year. There will be many new offerings to help shops be more sustainable across the board, offering more efficient technologies, better substrates, and more effective strategies for what happens after a graphic has reached end-of-life. As you walk the show floor, be sure to keep an eye out for those vendors and ask them about their sustainability solutions.

Equally, robotics play an increasingly important role in print operations, so expect to see more of it on the show floor this year. It might be systems to wind and unwind rolls without human intervention. It might be robots designed to move pallets around a shop floor autonomously. Maybe it’s arms to move boards on and off a flatbed press. Whatever the purpose, expect to see solutions at PRINTING United Expo designed to help remove friction and touches from the process of print, freeing up your skilled workers to spend their time doing the things that matter most.

Women in Print Alliance is a growing community.

Finally, I’m personally excited about all the Women in Print Alliance offerings at this year’s Expo. From a dedicated hotel block designed to help women in the print industry come together and connect easier, to a range of networking events and meet-ups both on and off the show floor, to the annual luncheon that sells out every year (so make sure to get your ticket now if you want to attend!) there will be many opportunities for women, and their allies, to come together to celebrate our roles in the industry, and talk about how we can attract and retain this half of the population.

As you can see, there is going to be a lot to see and do in just three days, so you’ll want to start planning now if you want to make sure you don’t miss a thing. The closer we get to the event, the more excited I’m getting, and I can’t wait to not only experience it live and in person, but also share it with all of you. So make sure you find me on the floor and say hello!