The worldwide large-format printer market has posted its third consecutive quarter of growth, according to International Data Corporation (IDC), with Canada among markets recording the highest year-over-year increases.

In the first quarter of 2014, the global market saw positive results over last year in terms of both units (7.4 per cent) and shipment value (3.7 per cent), with approximately 81,500 unit shipments recorded worldwide.

“Shipments of ultraviolet-curing (UV-curing) inkjet printers have been growing steadily over the past three years,” says Phuong Hang, IDC’s program manager who tracks the global large-format printer market. “We expect this trend to continue at a similar pace over the next three years.”

The graphics applications segment, specifically, grew by 4.5 per cent year-over-year, with 32,000 units shipped, accounting for 39 per cent of the total market. Within the segment, Japan led the pack with 22.4 per cent growth, followed by the Middle East and Africa with 18.7 per cent and Canada with 12.8 per cent.

The technical printing segment saw an even higher rate of growth at 9.3 per cent, with 49,500 units shipped worldwide, accounting for the other 61 per cent of the market. Shipment value grew by only 1.4 per cent to top $301 million, however, compared to 5.3 per cent and $493 million in the graphics segment.

HP remained the leader in the global large-format printer market with 39.8 per cent unit share, although it trailed Epson and Canon in the graphics segment. Roland ranked fourth in both the total market and the graphics segment, with shipments of its printers increasing 12.4 per cent year-over-year.