Wide-Format Graphics To Generate $9+ Billion in 2008

The wide-format graphics market generated $6 billion in manufacturers' revenues (retail level), and is expected to generate $9.4 billion in 2008, according to consultancy I.T. Strategies, Hanover, MA.

Specifically, says I.T., the breakdown looks like this:

–Total hardware revenues will grow from $1.3 billion in 2003 to $1.4 billion in 2008. In terms of total market share, hardware revenues will decrease from 22% in 2003 to 15% in 2008, driven by declining hardware prices.

–Total media revenues will grow from $2.4 billion in 2003 to $4.1 billion in 2008. In terms of market share, media revenues will increase from 39% in 2003 to 44% in 2008, driven by the increasing use of specialty media such as vinyl, fabric, canvas, etc.

–Total ink revenues will grow from $2.4 billion in 2003 to $3.9 billion in 2008. In terms of market share, ink revenues will increase from 39% in 2003 to 41% in 2008, an increase driven by the increasing installed base of printers.

Ink technologies' market shares will shift in that same period, I.T. projects. In 2003, 70% of wide-format graphics revenues is generated by aqueous printers, while solvent printers generate 26% of revenues. In 2008, however, solvent printers will generate 35% of revenues, while aqueous printers will generate 58% of market revenues. Flatbed printers will grow from 4% of the market to 7% of the market in that same span. (I.T. Strategies, www.it-strategies.com)