What the Imaging Industry Brands, Manufacturers and Partners Need to Focus on in 2026

By Mr. David Gibbons

Paper usage is reportedly declining. Smart devices, cloud workflows, electronic document sharing, and AI are reshaping how information is created and consumed. The printed page is under pressure. On the other hand, educators increasingly argue that learning outcomes improve when children read from paper rather than screens. Print remains relevant, but its role is evolving and changing. From my years living in Zhuhai, China, I have witnessed another transformation: the contraction of the aftermarket supply base. Consolidation, rising costs, and unsustainable pricing practices have reshaped the landscape. Some companies that sold below cost have disappeared.

OEMs Are Rethinking Their Strategy: At the last October’s RemaxWorld Summit 2025 in Zhuhai, Japanese-based industry expert Koichi Yoshizuka reported that OEMs in Japan are discovering a smarter way forward. Rather than competing as isolated brands, they are increasingly sharing core technologies and printer engines while maintaining distinct brand identities for marketing. This shift reflects a broader truth: efficiency, scale, and collaboration are becoming essential; not only for OEMs but also for the aftermarket and for your business in the end.

Growth Beyond Traditional Office Print: While office and home printing appear stagnant, demand is accelerating in adjacent sectors. These markets represent some of the most promising opportunities for the imaging industry in 2026.

1. Textiles and digital fabric printing: Direct-to-garment (DTG), dye-sublimation, and direct-to-film (DTF) technologies are expanding rapidly, driven by custom fashion, e-commerce, and short production runs. Innovation in the ink sector is central to this growth.

2. Decoration and interior design: Digital printing is transforming wallpapers, furniture surfaces, ceramics, glass, and building materials. Consumers increasingly demand personalized and short-run decorative products. This is an ideal environment for advanced ink and toner solutions.

3. Brand protection and security printing: Counterfeiting is a global problem. Specialized inks, micro-printing, variable-data printing, and forensic marking technologies are becoming critical across pharmaceuticals, electronics, and luxury goods. This is a high-margin, technology-driven segment.

4. Packaging and labeling: The rise of e-commerce and sustainability requirements is reshaping packaging. Digital printing enables short runs, customization, and rapid prototyping. Inkjet technologies are replacing traditional analogue processes across the food, beverage, and logistics sectors.

Many suppliers in China and beyond have already diversified into these industries. If you want to survive and thrive, you should diversify. The future of the printer and copier industry will not be defined solely by office volumes. It will be shaped by those who reposition themselves as imaging technology partners across multiple sectors. Your business does not need to abandon its legacy. But it must expand its vision. The aftermarket survived the chip revolution because it innovated. It will survive the digital revolution only if it does the same. Those who embrace this reality will not merely endure the industry’s transformation—they will lead it.

About the Author: Mr. David Gibbons has 47 years of experience, knowledge and skills in business (management, consultancy, strategic planning) and communication (teaching, event management, fundraising, journalism, broadcasting and new/digital media—social, website, app development). Until 2024, Gibbons has been a director in RT Media in Zhuhai, China.

Covered By: Imaging Solution / Imaging Industry

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