2025: The Year the Printing Industry Refused to Sit Still
(A slightly biased recap by ME Printer)
If there’s one thing the printing industry proved in 2025, it’s this: rumors of our demise are greatly exaggerated and printed in the wrong color profile anyway.
From bustling exhibition halls to inboxes overflowing with “just following up on our last meeting at…” emails, 2025 was a year where the global printing community stayed firmly on its feet, coffee in one hand and a spec sheet in the other.
Events, Events… and More Events
By mid-2025, industry calendars looked like tightly packed imposition layouts. Whether it was major global exhibitions, focused regional shows, or invite-only open houses with suspiciously good catering, one thing was clear: people wanted to meet again, properly.
Walking the halls, you could hear the familiar soundtrack:
- The hum of presses (real or simulated),
- Sales pitches delivered in three languages simultaneously,
- And that universal phrase: “Yes, yes… very interesting. Please send brochure.”
At ME Printer, we watched closely as:
- Digital printing continued its confident march forward,
- Offset quietly reminded everyone it’s still doing the heavy lifting,
- Packaging remained the industry’s golden child,
- And sustainability stopped being a “future plan” and became a mandatory slide in every presentation.
Technology in 2025: Faster, Smarter, and Still “Optional”
Artificial intelligence made its way into workflows, dashboards, and marketing decks—sometimes genuinely useful, sometimes… aspirational. Automation became less about replacing people and more about saving operators from repetitive tasks and unnecessary headaches.
Meanwhile, everyone agreed on one thing:
Downtime is still the enemy, spare parts are still never “in stock,” and lead times are still explained with impressive creativity.
The Middle East: No Longer Just Watching
One of the strongest themes of 2025 was the Middle East’s growing confidence—not just as a buyer of technology, but as a serious production and decision-making hub. Investments became more calculated, questions more technical, and expectations noticeably higher.
In short: fewer “How much is the machine?” questions, and far more “What happens after year three?”
So… What Do We Expect from 2026?
If 2025 was about momentum, 2026 looks set to be about precision.
Here’s what we’re keeping an eye on:
- Smarter Investments, Not Louder Ones
Fewer impulse purchases. More ROI calculations. More customers asking uncomfortable, but necessary questions about service, software, and long-term support.
- Sustainability Gets Real
2026 won’t tolerate greenwashing. Expect:
- More data,
- More certifications,
- And fewer vague promises printed on recycled paper.
- Hybrid Printing Takes Center Stage
Offset, digital, flexo, inkjet—it’s no longer “either/or.” The smartest operations will be the ones that blend technologies instead of defending them.
- Content Will Matter More Than Noise
Manufacturers who explain why their technology matters, not just how fast it runs, will stand out. And publications that provide clarity instead of hype will be more important than ever. (Yes, we’re biased.)
Final Impression (Printed in Bold)
The printing industry didn’t just survive 2025, it adapted, adjusted, and showed up.
2026 promises to reward those who think long-term, invest wisely, and understand that printing has never been just about machines—it’s about systems, people, and trust.
As always, ME Printer will be there—watching, questioning, reporting, and occasionally smiling knowingly from the sidelines.
See you at the next show. We’ll bring the notebook.
