In the 1960s and 1970s, there was the largest number of printing startups worldwide because offset duplicator presses and their equipments were less expensive than existing hot metal/letterpress devices. Today, there is a rise of digital-only print services.

For example, there was an increase in the number of print establishments in the New Zealand print industry from 254 in 2006 to 335 in 2007. The number of larger printing firms and mergers taking place is down. Industry revenue rose from $NZ1.1 billion to $NZ1.25 billion and this 9% increase included small firms. Digital printing also rose 44% among all users. Copy shops, quick printers, commercial printers, sign shops, and online print services are all enjoying an increase in revenue because they have a small number of employees and they are totally digital.

Small-to-medium businesses dominate the industry in the United States and Australia, with 85% of printing enterprises employing fewer than 20 people. Three quarters of print shops in Germany employ fewer than 10 staff and in Asia, approximately 95% of companies are classified as small businesses. Most of the skill sets of the traditional printing industry are now automated to a high degree. It takes less labor and less skill to produce a printed page than ever before.

Tags: digital printing, print industry

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