The declines in the 3Q2015 results compared to 2014 are apparently to be expected, as the third quarter is “often the slowest quarter of the year in the global wide-format business”.
The CAD and technical printer market also recorded falls, although new products released in the quarter should drive a recovery in the segment in the fourth quarter, according to IDC data. Graphic printer shipments declined one percent year-on-year, while a 20 percent growth in UV-curable printers offset the decline in conventional aqueous graphic inkjets.
Shipments in Latin America grew 10 percent compared to the previous quarter, although they fell by seven percent compared to 3Q2014. Modest growth in North America was offset by declines in the IMEA region, while remaining flat in Asia Pacific.
HP remains “by far” the top wide-format digital printing supplier, with its latex and UV segments growing in the quarter; followed by Canon, with 21 percent market share; and Epson, Roland DG and Mimaki.
Epson is seeing growth in the dye-sublimation and technical printer segments following the re-launch of its eco-solvent inkjet units at the SGIA show. Shipments also declined 7.5 percent year-on-year for Canon and Ricoh, with users continuing to shift to colour inkjet for their wide-format volume.
Tim Greene, Research Director for IDC’s US Large Format Printer Tracker, said that things will likely improve in the coming quarter as “many print-for-pay shops take advantage of aggressive end-of-year manufacturer promotions”.
He added: “While aqueous inkjet printer shipments declined, shipments of large format UV and eco-solvent printers grew in the third quarter based on some model-end clear outs and price cuts. While latex shipments declined slightly worldwide in 3Q15 compared to 2Q15, Latex printer shipments grew five percent year to date in 2015.”