Top 3 Printing Trends for 2019

Civilizations have been printing since 3100 BC, but unlike the people who utilised these precursory methods, print technology innovations are still alive and well.

Unsurprisingly, the past century brought with it the most numerous and impressive advancements in printing – from screen printing technologies to affordable 3D printers.

And, while the coming year may not make as substantial a leap of bringing us from analogue to digital, there are undeniably many new printing trends in 2019 to get excited about.

Here are few of the top printing trends we’re expecting to see in the New Year:

Portable Printers Will Continue to Go the Distance

In recent years, more and more people have sought out portable printers that are compatible with smart devices and applications. This came as a natural consequence of the growing demand for combining mobility and document solutions. And, as more companies enable employees to work remotely, space-saving, mobile portable printers have become nearly as much of a mainstay as laptops and smartphones.

The move toward portable printers is not expected to slow down any time soon, with the global market accelerating at a CAGR of close to 18 percent from 2019 to 2023. While portable printers offer consumers a newfound sense of printing mobility and compactness, working professionals still expect the advanced security solutions of portable printers’ more stationary predecessors. So, as the portable printing market continues to climb, printer manufacturers will also look to differentiate their technology with robust security measures to ensure the integrity of their printer systems.

3D Printing Will Become Even More Ubiquitous

Not even ten years ago, we saw the release of the first “affordable” 3D printer, coming in at just under £10,000. As technology has become more accessible, prices have continued to become more reasonable for the average person and companies on a budget. Researchers and schools have used 3D printers to print houses, prosthetics, transplant organs – and even artificial parts of the environment that could be the key to saving our planet.

In 2019, a growing number of vertical industries will look to leverage 3D technology, as people find more and more creative ways to use 3D printed materials to their advantage. Piloting 3D printing was initially more trouble than it was worth for most industries. But, the increasingly cost-effective technology could be the answer for industries eager to find alternative ways of producing items made from traditionally rigid or expensive processes.

Among the more surprising industries to use more 3D printing is in pharmaceuticals, which can alter drug characteristics not easily-modified in traditional manufacturing processes. By 3D printing oral and injectable medications, researchers can offer consumers more personalized supplements, even modifying the strength, release profile and distribution of ingredients.

Companies Will Invest More in Printed Marketing Materials

Ironically enough, as the digital world becomes more all-encompassing, there’s also an increasing demand for printed materials, especially in marketing.

The online space has become crowded since the mass media migration toward digital, rendering many online marketing initiatives ineffective. Nearly one in four desktop users turn on ad blockers, and those who are exposed to the ads have become more immune to previously attention-grabbing digital ads.

Direct mail marketing – albeit automated – is a marketing platform that has made a strong resurgence in recent years as companies try to cut through the digital noise.

Up to 90 percent of direct mail gets opened, while only 20 to 30 percent of emails are opened. Not only that, more than half of households purchased a product or service for which they received a direct mail ad. And, contrary to what you’ve been told about millennials, direct mail is just as effective in targeting them – with 92 percent saying they have been influenced to make a purchasing decision by direct mail.

The move back toward traditional marketing methods and printed collateral is a trend we’ll likely continue seeing into 2019 and beyond, as more companies catch on to the advantages of pursuing these strategies.

Thousands of years after its creation, we continue to see advancements and innovations in printing methods and technology. And as compact, portable printers and additive manufacturing with 3D printing continue to gain ground, we’ll also be seeing numerous other scientific and business advancements facilitated by our more fast-paced world.

To learn more about printing and get friendly, unbiased advice, visit the local experts at a Cartridge World near you.