The increase in technical machines outweighs a small decline in overall sales.
IDC reported that the large-format peripherals market in Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa (the CEMA region) saw a slight decline of -0.91 percent in 2012 compared to 2011, but saw a six percent increase in technical wide-format machines devoted to architecture, engineering and construction.
Shipments volumes for all wide-format machines in the region were 37,814 units sold, worth in total over $333 million (€253.7 million), with the growth in technical areas “driven by construction demand from the public and private sectors”. Graphical printing devices however declined in both “volume and value”, due to “lower demand from the advertising sector, prolonged replacement cycles” and high prices.
Another area of focus was that of aqueous ink devices, which held over 80 percent of the market’s volume last year, and though the share is “expected to decline slightly”, these devices will “retain their dominance” in years to come, whilst UV or latex “advanced” ink machines are also expected to increase their share of the market as well.
Growth expectations for the CEMA market for 2013 are for growth of around four percent, which IDC states will be driven by “increased demand for technical printing in the construction sector”, though graphical printing is expected to “remain flat”. HP still remains the market leader with 55.3 percent share, and a 65.5 percent share in technical, and also maintained second place in graphical.
Epson in turn remains in second place in the entire market with 14.7 percent, and still leads graphical with 36.8 percent market share, whilst Canon recorded third position with 12.3 percent market share and experienced a steep growth of 32.5 percent in technical printing.
David Mühlbach, Research Analyst at IDC CEMA, stated of the results: “Only innovative technologies with new application options and cost-effective devices can succeed in the current market environment. Although shipments have been slowing over the past year, a recovery is expected in the near future.”