Industry Pressures and Possibilities
The Technology Forum at Graphics Canada 2025 tackled the future of print industry technology with insights from leaders across automation, digital workflow, and AI integration. Moderated by Bob Dale, Senior Vice President, Connecting for Results, the panel featured senior executives from Ricoh, Xerox, HP, Canon, Landa, and Konica Minolta.
Meet the Panel
- Marlys Brothers, VP, Commercial & Industrial Print, Ricoh
- Jeff Edwards, Sr. Business Development Manager, Canon
- Hubert Soviche, President, Global Production Group, Xerox
- Gary Gunter, Regional Manager, Canada/North America, Landa
- Fernando Alperowitch, HP Industrial Business Leader, HP
- Frank Mallozzi, President, IPP, Konica Minolta
Technology Investment and Workforce Efficiency
The panel confirmed that investment in print industry technology—especially automation, workflow tools, and digital solutions—remains critical. But technology alone isn’t enough. True ROI comes when these investments align with workforce development and operational planning. As one panelist put it, “You can’t expect to do things better, faster, cheaper, with no disruption.”
Automation and AI: Opportunities and Roadblocks
While automation isn’t new, many PSPs are just beginning to embrace it. Real gains come from tailored automation strategies and skills development. AI use cases are growing—from prepress automation to customer analytics—but the 2024 CFR/CPIA survey showed low adoption, revealing untapped potential in print industry technology.
New Markets and Global Pressures
Packaging, wide-format, and e-commerce fulfillment are among the most promising growth areas. However, tariffs and sourcing challenges remain. Ricoh’s Canadian base offers a unique advantage, while other panelists stressed the need for diversified planning—a lesson learned during COVID-19 and now critical to tech strategy.
Strategic Support for Printers
Vendors agreed: their role goes beyond selling equipment. They act as partners, helping PSPs choose and implement the right technologies. Panelists also called for improvements to government investment support programs to better reflect today’s print industry technology needs.
Conclusion: What Comes Next?
The message from the forum was clear—“Innovate, Adapt, Thrive” is more than a theme; it’s a mindset. With smarter technology use, strategic support, and cross-industry collaboration, print service providers can do more than survive—they can lead.
To learn more about how CFR can help your organization adopt the right print industry technology for long-term success, contact us today.
Image by Connecting for Results