Industry News Roundup: September 2026 Printing industry accelerates digital and green transformation
On September 2, the National Technical Committee for Printing Machinery Standardisation (SAC/TC 192) officially initiated the 2026 industry standard review process. The review covers 17 industry standards, including "JB/T 6530-2018: Printing Machine Product Naming and Model Coding Methods". The initiative aims to comprehensively evaluate the advancement, applicability, standardisation, coordination, and implementation effectiveness of existing standards. Industry stakeholders are required to submit their feedback by September 15, 2026.
On September 2, the "Driving Light and Electricity, Printing the Future with Intelligence" forum took place in Longgang, Zhejiang Province. Co-organised by the Longgang Economic Development Bureau, the Peking University–Longgang Joint Laboratory for Advanced Quantum Technology, and the Longgang Printing and Packaging Industry Association, the event brought together research experts from Peking University's Wang Xuan Computer Science Institute and nearly 30 local printing industry representatives.
Topics covered included new digital printing technologies, packaging anti-counterfeiting printing industrialisation, and prepress automation.
📌 Key statistic: Longgang, known as "China's Printing City," has seen its printing industry output value exceed RMB 50 billion in 2025, with over 47,000 market entities and approximately 150,000 employees. The city is now in a critical phase of transitioning toward intelligent and high-end manufacturing.
Global printing giant Xerox has announced a strategic partnership with Xeikon, the digital printing division of Flint Group. The agreement allows Xerox to integrate Xeikon's deep technical expertise in digital packaging and labelling directly into its production printing hardware portfolio. The collaboration will connect Xeikon-powered presses to Xerox's established production ecosystem, including automated workflow software, post-press solutions, global sales networks, and remote service infrastructure.
The first jointly developed devices will carry the Xerox brand with proprietary control software and integrated services, with full specifications expected in the coming months.
Japan's comprehensive printing event HOPE 2026 (HOKKAIDO PRINT EXPO) was held on September 2–3 in Sapporo, Hokkaido. Marking the 10th edition of the event, this year's theme focused on "DX Co-creation, Digital Revolution". Major exhibitors included Konica Minolta Japan and Ryobi MHI Graphic Technology.
Qiangbang New Materials (001279.SZ), a leading Chinese printing plate manufacturer, reported first-half 2026 revenue of RMB 893 million (approx. USD 123 million), up 28.03% year-over-year. However, net profit attributable to shareholders declined 62.84% to RMB 11.80 million, reflecting a classic "increasing revenue without increasing profit" pattern. The company's offset printing plates segment generated RMB 767 million, accounting for 85.93% of total revenue.
The profit decline was primarily attributed to rising aluminium coil raw material costs, currency fluctuations, and increased investment in new business lines. Despite the headwinds, Qiangbang continues to invest in R&D around process-free CTP plates and other eco-friendly products, securing multiple equipment patents during the period. The company has also diversified into digital printing equipment and electronic ceramic materials through holding acquisitions.
HuiDa Yintong Technology Co., Ltd., a NEEQ-listed company specialising in CTCP plates, CTP plates, and double-layer thermal CTP plates, reported first-half 2026 revenue of RMB 228 million, with a net loss of RMB 529,900 — a 33.42% reduction in losses year-over-year. The company holds recognition as the "Henan Province Offset Plate Engineering Technology Center".
Tiancheng Shares (NEEQ:831048), a printing plate manufacturer leveraging nano-printing technology from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, reported first-half revenue of RMB 98.15 million with a net profit of RMB 66,000, turning around from a loss of RMB 290,000 in the same period last year. The company primarily produces PS plates, UV-CTP plates, thermal CTP plates, and green inkjet plates.
LOUPE Americas 2026 (formerly Labelexpo Americas), the largest dedicated label and packaging printing exhibition in the Americas, will take place September 15–17 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Chicago. The event has expanded its technology showcase to reflect the growing convergence of labels, short-run flexible packaging, and inline folding carton processing. Over 400 exhibitors will spotlight innovations across digital and hybrid presses, automation, finishing, and sustainable materials.
Key exhibitors include:
Running concurrently, Digital Printing China 2026 will take place at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre from September 15–17. The exhibition covers inkjet printing, digital textile printing, graphic imaging, and related technologies.
The UK's leading printing exhibition, The Print Show 2026, will be held September 29 – October 1 in Birmingham. The event will feature comprehensive prepress solutions including CTP systems, digital proofing equipment, colour management systems, and workflow software.
The 10th All in Print China exhibition remains one of the most anticipated industry events of the year, scheduled for October 12–16 in Shanghai. Backed by the drupa global alliance, the event will feature five core zones covering digital printing, prepress and CTP systems, printing equipment, post-press machinery, and green printing materials.
Industry research confirms the accelerating shift toward sustainable plate technologies. According to QYResearch, the global process-free CTP plates market was valued at approximately USD 736 million in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 1.065 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 5.5% during 2026–2032.
| Region | Market Share |
|---|---|
| North America | 38% |
| Europe | 31% |
| Asia-Pacific | 26% |
Key players including Kodak (with its SONORA X plate) and Agfa (AZURA and ENERGY ELITE PLUS thermal CTP plates) continue to expand their process-free offerings across commercial printing operations.
September 2026 reflects a printing industry in dynamic transformation. China continues to strengthen its position through technical standards development, academic-industry collaboration, and sustained investment in process-free plate technologies.
Global strategic partnerships, such as the Xerox-Xeikon alliance, signal intensifying competition in digital packaging. Meanwhile, financial results from leading Chinese plate manufacturers highlight both the opportunities in growing markets and the challenges of raw material cost pressures.
With multiple international exhibitions on the immediate horizon, the industry is poised for a busy and productive season of networking, technology discovery, and business development.
BOCICA (Zhejiang Senhai New Material Co., Ltd.) remains committed to providing high-quality CTP printing plates and CTCP printing plates for printers worldwide. The company's CTP‑S series features an innovative double-layer coating design compatible with mainstream 830nm thermal CTP systems including Screen, Kodak, and Heidelberg.
With process-free and low-chemistry technologies becoming industry imperatives, BOCICA continues to invest in R&D and production capabilities to meet evolving market demands.
🌱 Looking ahead: For more information about our product portfolio, including process-free and low-chemistry solutions, please contact our sales team or visit us at upcoming industry events.
From thermal CTP and CTCP to process-free innovations — BOCICA offers reliable plate solutions engineered for performance, sustainability, and global supply chain stability.
Explore our full plate portfolio and find the right solution for your printing business.
📩 Explore BOCICA plates →📧 Email: inquiry@bocica.com | 🌐 www.bocica.com
