PRINTING United Alliance Launches Free Unified Printing Taxonomy to Transform Global Print Industry

(PRESS RELEASE) PHILADELPHIA, PA — PRINTING United Alliance, the most comprehensive member-based printing and graphic arts association in North America, announced that the Unified Printing Taxonomy, a robust, standardized classification system for products and services across the printing and graphic arts industry, now is available for free download by leading suppliers and partners worldwide.

Developed in partnership with I.T. Strategies and Zwang & Co. and guided by a distinguished advisory board of industry leaders, the Unified Printing Taxonomy addresses long-standing challenges around inconsistent nomenclature and under representation of print in government and market data. Since its initial launch in 2021, the framework has been refined through extensive collaboration across equipment manufacturers, finishing suppliers, packaging converters, and trade associations on every continent.

“After years of collective effort, we’re proud to offer the Unified Printing Taxonomy as a global resource,” says Dave Leskusky, President, PRINTING United Alliance. “By adopting a common language for our products and services, suppliers everywhere can improve their data accuracy, enhance market insights, and drive more informed business decisions.”

Members of the original Taxonomy Advisory Board — including representatives from PRINTING United Alliance, Epson America, FESPA, Fortis Solutions Group, Fujifilm Dimatix, HP Inc., Hunkeler, Intergraf, Koenig & Bauer, M&R, and Ricoh Americas — have contributed to and endorsed this release. Their input ensures the taxonomy remains flexible enough to accommodate emerging technologies, service models, and market segments.

“Standardizing how we classify and report our offerings is essential for the future growth of print,” says David Zwang, Chairman of Zwang & Co. and Taxonomy Advisory Board member. “This framework lays the foundation for clear communication and more effective collaboration across our industry.”

Real-World Applications
The Alliance currently is utilizing the Unified Printing Taxonomy in key areas, including its new Membership Directory, within PRINTING United Expo platforms. Additionally, it is being rolled out across Alliance media brands, to make critical assets and content instantly discoverable. By applying consistent nomenclature to company, equipment, and service listings in the directory, exhibitors’ products and services at the Expo, and content assets and recommendations on Alliance media sites; OEMs, suppliers, printers and print buyers can find exactly what they need faster and more intuitively.

As more organizations adopt the taxonomy industry-wide, it will unlock powerful machine-learning and automation opportunities — accelerating search, driving new partnerships and collaborations, and fueling innovation throughout the global print community.

Printers, suppliers, and industry stakeholders can access the full taxonomy here. For more information about joining the Alliance and how to participate in important industry initiatives such as the Unified Printing Taxonomy, visit here.