The worldwide large-format printer market continues to find new opportunities for growth, according to International Data Corporation (IDC), even though shipments of printers to sign shops are now relatively flat.

As per IDC’s market-tracking reports, overall shipments of large-format printers around the world increased by 4.1 per cent in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2013, compared to the same quarter in the previous year, reaching approximately 82,000 units. Mature markets saw 3.6 per cent growth year-over-year, while emerging markets saw a 4.8 per cent increase.

Shipments in the graphics sector remained steady. The same 4.8 per cent rate of growth in emerging markets was offset by a decline of 3.2 per cent in mature markets. Adoption of the same technologies, however, garnered further favour among other user groups.

“There are multiple growth opportunities,” says Phuong Hang, director of IDC’s worldwide large format printer tracker program. “Improved speeds and image quality can boost aqueous printer sales into the technical space, for instance, and latex-ink-based products will also drive growth.”

Indeed, shipments to the technical market in Q3 of 2013 increased by 6.9 per cent overall—and 8.4 per cent in mature markets—year-over-year. This sector now represents a 60 per cent share of the total large-format printer market, compared to 40 per cent for graphics applications.

In terms of specific top vendors, IDC released the following findings for the quarter:

• HP grew by 3.9 per cent to maintain its leading share of the technical and overall markets and second place in the graphics market.
• Canon climbed by 8.5 per cent to become the second-biggest worldwide vendor of large-format printers, with growth in both graphics and technical markets.
• Epson saw a 1.1 per cent decline in sales, ranking third-place in the technical market but continuing to lead in the graphics sector, with more than double HP’s share.
• Roland grew by 17.2 per cent and maintained its fourth-place position both in the graphics market and overall.
• Ricoh, which does not serve the graphics market at all, experienced 41.8 per cent growth thanks solely to the technical market, sufficient to rank fifth overall.