Day One Highlights from the 2025 Wide-Format Summit

By Gabby Houck

The following article was originally published by Wide-format Impressions. To read more of their content, subscribe to their newsletter, Wide-Format Impressions.

The 2025 Wide-format Summit — now in its 5th year— kicked off Monday at the JW Marriott Turnberry Resort and Spa, in Aventura, Florida. The annual event brings together a roster of growth-minded wide-format business owners and top-level managers seeking to chart their paths forward. The summit is presented by PRINTING United Alliance and Wide-format Impressions, and is supported by more than 40 sponsoring companies, including Keynote Sponsors Agfa, Canon, and Durst.

Key Summit Takeaways: Day One

Denise Gustavson, editorial director for Alliance Media Brands, and Dan Marx, content director for Wide-format Impressions, opened the show and gave a warm welcome to attendees. Marx said, "All of you were here for a reason. Not only did you apply to attend this event, but you were also vetted by our team. You're here to take your business to the next level, and we're delighted and have you."

The Growing Influence of Wide-Format Technology

Marco Boer, Vice President of IT Strategies

Following the opening remarks, Marco Boer, Vice President of IT Strategies, dove right into his keynote session "The Growing Influence of Wide-format Technology." During his presentation, Boer explained how navigating the future of the print industry requires a forward-thinking mindset, strategic investments in emerging technologies like AI and robotics, finishing technologies, and ERP systems — as well as a willingness to refine business models to future-proof operations. This approach applies whether companies are finding one niche and getting really good at the craft, or branching out into different sectors like promotional goods and packaging.

Boer discussed how the key to thriving in the wide-format industry moving forward is a matter of the "haves and have-nots."

"The industry is dividing up between the haves and the have-nots. Meaning if you are a company that's got a healthy balance sheet and you can invest in more automation, more finishing equipment, and more software, things are gonna be pretty good," Boer said.

Boer concluded his presentation with this lasting advice, "Be urgent to sort of double down on what you're doing and perfect those business models. Invest in automation. Continue to do things that frankly are painful. You have to make those decisions because if you don't, you fall behind."

Maximizing Profitability: How Technology is Advancing Wide-Format Printing

(L-R) Chuck Wingard, president of Tree Towns Imaging and Color Graphics; Michael Duggal, CEO of Duggal Visual Solutions; Sean Haley, general manager of CSI; and Denise Gustavson, director, Alliance media brands

Following Boer's presentation, Gustavson was joined on stage by Michael Duggal, CEO of Duggal Visual Solutions, Chuck Wingard, president of Tree Towns Imaging and Color Graphics, and Sean Haley, general manager of CSI, to chat about the latest advancements in wide-format technology, automation, and workflow enhancements designed to help businesses stay competitive. Questions came from keynote sponsors, Agfa, Canon, and Durst, about the challenges and strategies in the wide-format printing industry, and in the panelists responses, key themes showed the need for continuous investment in technology to stay competitive, the importance of setting realistic customer expectations, and the necessity of raising prices to maintain profitability. The panel also highlighted the impact of economic uncertainties, labor shortages, and rising costs on the industry, stressing the need for adaptability and strategic planning to navigate these challenges.

AI and Automation: The Next Evolution in Wide-Format Printing

To finish on a strong note, day one's sessions concluded with Steve Metcalf, founder of ImagineAI. During his presentation, Metcalf discussed the transformative impact of AI on businesses. He highlighted the rapid advancements in AI models and how these advancements help improve decision-making, reduce manual processes, and unlock new creative possibilities for wide-format businesses. Throughout his presentation, Metcalf helped attendees gain a better understanding of how to implement AI tools effectively and stay ahead in an increasingly digital and automated print landscape.

Steve Metcalf, founder of ImagineAI

"It doesn't matter if you are a programmer, designer, broadband or data science, lawyer, customer support, salesperson, or a vice president. AI is coming for you. You must understand what once was considered easy will no longer exist, and what was once considered hard will be the new easy. What was considered impossible is now hard, so nothing's impossible anymore," Metcalf says.

About the Wide-Format Summit

The Wide-format Summit is a free, all-inclusive experience for qualified attendees – senior managers and business executives who want to understand how current and future wide-format printing technology, software and solutions will impact their business and investment decisions. This summit offers strategic-level insights into what printing industry leaders can do to improve and optimize their business.