Printing Machinery Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Type (Printers, Plotters), By Technology (Digital, Lazer, Flexographic, and Rotogravure), By End User (Manufacturing, Packaging, Research), By Region, By Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 24.91 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	4.99%
Fastest Growing Segment	Printers
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 33.36 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Printing Machinery Market will grow from USD 24.91 Billion in 2025 to USD 33.36 Billion by 2031 at a 4.99% CAGR. Printing machinery comprises the diverse range of capital equipment utilized to reproduce text and images on substrates such as paper, plastic, and metal via offset, flexographic, gravure, and digital processes. The expansion of this market is primarily supported by the strong demand for flexible packaging solutions necessitated by the global e-commerce sector and the increasing requirement for high-volume commercial printing in developing nations. These drivers foster a sustained need for high-capacity hardware capable of meeting efficient production schedules.

However, the industry currently faces a substantial obstacle in the form of fluctuating raw material prices and supply chain uncertainties which complicate long term capital planning for manufacturers. According to Acimga, in 2024, the turnover of the Italian printing and converting machinery sector reached 3,144 million euros which represented a growth of 1.7 percent compared to the previous year. This figure highlights that while the market confronts economic friction, key manufacturing hubs continue to demonstrate resilience.

Key Market Drivers

The rapid expansion of the global packaging industry serves as the primary catalyst for the printing machinery market, driven by escalating needs in the e-commerce and fast-moving consumer goods sectors. Manufacturers are increasingly investing in high-speed flexographic and offset presses capable of processing diverse substrates to meet the surge in demand for flexible and corrugated packaging. This sectoral growth buffers the broader industry against volatility in commercial printing, prompting machinery OEMs to pivot their portfolios toward packaging-centric hardware. According to Komori Corporation, May 2025, in the 'Financial Report 2024', consolidated net sales increased by 6.5% to 111.1 billion yen for the fiscal year ending March 2025, a performance reinforced by strategic investments to strengthen the company's packaging sector.

Simultaneously, the rising demand for sustainable and eco-friendly printing solutions is reshaping machinery specifications, compelling vendors to engineer equipment that minimizes waste and supports recyclable materials. Stricter environmental regulations and shifting consumer preferences are forcing print service providers to adopt technologies compatible with water-based inks and biodegradable substrates. This trend is substantiated by high material recovery rates which demand specialized processing capabilities; according to VDMA, April 2025, in the 'Update of the industry reports for 2024', the paper recycling rate in Europe reached 79.3% in 2023, necessitating advanced machinery capable of handling recycled content efficiently. This operational shift contributes to overall market stability, as evidenced when, according to Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, November 2025, sales in the first half of the financial year 2025/2026 increased by 7.6% to €985 million compared to the previous year.

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Key Market Challenges

The global printing machinery market is currently hindered by significant volatility in raw material costs and persistent supply chain instability. These economic fluctuations disrupt manufacturing cycles, making it difficult for machinery producers to maintain consistent pricing models or guarantee delivery timelines. When the costs of essential inputs such as steel and electronic components rise unexpectedly, manufacturers face reduced profit margins or are forced to pass these expenses to customers, which often leads to delayed capital investment decisions by printing service providers.

This operational uncertainty directly impacts market activity and order volumes. According to the VDMA (Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau), in 2024, incoming orders for the German machinery and equipment manufacturing sector—a critical hub for global printing technology—declined by 8 percent in real terms compared to the previous year. Such data indicates that buyers are exercising caution due to the unpredictable economic environment. Consequently, the inability to forecast material availability and costs creates a hesitancy that slows the overall momentum of the printing machinery sector.

Key Market Trends

The advancement of high-speed industrial inkjet capabilities is fundamentally altering production landscapes by enabling manufacturers to handle high-volume variable data printing with offset-like quality. This shift is particularly prevalent in the folding carton and corrugated sectors, where the need for versioning and rapid changeovers renders traditional plate-based processes inefficient for targeted campaigns. Consequently, machinery OEMs are aggressively expanding their digital portfolios to capture this transition toward hybrid and dedicated digital production lines. This technological surge is quantitatively evident; according to Koenig & Bauer, March 2024, in the 'Annual Report 2023', revenue in the Digital & Webfed segment increased by 23.2% to €172.3 million compared to the previous year, highlighting the accelerating capital allocation toward these advanced digital systems.

Simultaneously, the implementation of automated workflow and finishing processes has become a critical requirement for print service providers striving to mitigate acute skilled labor shortages and minimize operational downtime. This trend extends beyond simple mechanization to encompass fully integrated smart factory ecosystems where machinery communicates real-time data to optimize job scheduling and predictive maintenance. This drive for connectivity and end-to-end automation is securing substantial investment even amidst broader economic caution, as converters prioritize equipment that reduces manual intervention. According to Bobst Group, February 2024, in the 'Annual Report 2023', consolidated sales increased by 6.5% to a record CHF 1.96 billion, a performance attributed to the robust delivery of connected and automated printing and converting technologies.

Segmental Insights

The Printers segment represents the fastest-growing category within the Global Printing Machinery Market due to heightened demand from the packaging and commercial sectors. This expansion is primarily driven by the rising need for high-quality, customized labeling solutions in industries such as food, beverages, and pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, stringent packaging regulations enforced by institutions like the Food and Drug Administration require precise product information, necessitating capable printing equipment to ensure compliance. Consequently, manufacturers are investing in diverse printing units to support these regulatory standards and accommodate the global shift toward short-run, on-demand production cycles.

Regional Insights

North America holds the leading position in the Global Printing Machinery Market, driven by a mature industrial infrastructure and the widespread adoption of automated digital printing technologies. The region experiences consistent demand from the packaging and pharmaceutical sectors, which require high-speed and precise labeling solutions to maintain efficiency. Additionally, stringent regulatory standards enforced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) necessitate significant investments in compliant printing equipment. This sustained focus on technological integration and regulatory adherence firmly establishes North America as the dominant force in the global marketplace.

Recent Developments

• In May 2024, Canon and Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG announced a global sales and service collaboration focused on sheetfed inkjet printing technology. Under this strategic partnership, Heidelberg expanded its technology portfolio by introducing its own inkjet product family based on the Canon B2 sheetfed inkjet press and the established B3 sheetfed inkjet system. The cooperation aimed to support commercial print businesses in establishing hybrid offset and digital production environments to meet changing market demands for shorter runs and diverse jobs. Both companies emphasized their shared goal of providing integrated solutions and best-in-class service to customers worldwide.
• In May 2024, Bobst Group launched the Digital Master 55, an all-in-one digital printing and converting platform tailored for the folding carton industry. This new solution combined printing, embellishment, quality control, and die-cutting in a single inline process running at speeds of up to 100 meters per minute. The platform was designed to reduce production time by up to 80% for short runs and enable just-in-time production, thereby minimizing the need for large inventories. The company highlighted that this innovation would help converters optimize their total cost of ownership while embracing digitalization and automation in their workflows.
• In May 2024, Koenig & Bauer presented the VariJET 106, a digital folding carton press jointly developed with Durst, at the leading industry trade fair in Düsseldorf. This machine integrated inkjet technology with the robust mechanical engineering of a standard offset press, allowing for high-quality printing with the flexibility of digital systems. Alongside this hardware launch, the company announced a partnership with Siemens to offer virtual product configurations using digital twin technology. These developments were part of a broader strategy to enhance efficiency and sustainability in packaging production through increased digitalization and automated workflows for their global customer base.
• In March 2024, HP Inc. unveiled a new lineup of digital printing presses, including the HP Indigo 120K and the HP Indigo 18K, to address production challenges in the commercial and packaging sectors. The HP Indigo 120K Digital Press was designed for high-volume production, featuring advanced automation to reduce human touchpoints and enable multi-press operation by a single operator. Additionally, the company introduced the HP Indigo 18K Digital Press, which handles a wide range of print applications and substrates. These innovations aimed to improve productivity, sustainability, and economics for printing businesses facing labor shortages and supply chain disruptions.

Key Market Players

• Oce N.V.
• Fujifilm Holdings Corporation
• Heidelberger Druckmanschinen AG
• HP Inc.
• Koenig & Bauer AG
• Komori Corporation
• Apex Machine Company Inc.
• Bobst Group SA

By Type	By Technology	By End User	By Region
Printers Plotters	Digital Lazer Flexographic and Rotogravure	Manufacturing Packaging Research	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Printing Machinery Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Printing Machinery Market, By Type:

• Printers
• Plotters

• Printing Machinery Market, By Technology:

• Digital
• Lazer
• Flexographic
• and Rotogravure

• Printing Machinery Market, By End User:

• Manufacturing
• Packaging
• Research

• Printing Machinery Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE