Efficiency And Durability Will Become The Defining Priorities For Signage Printers In 2027 



I believe 2027 will see signage businesses placing even greater emphasis on production efficiency, reliability and the overall cost of printing, as economic pressures continue to influence investment decisions across the industry. 

With rising employment costs, energy prices and continued pressure on margins, print service providers are increasingly looking beyond the initial purchase price of equipment. What matters is how much it costs to produce each square metre of print, how reliably a machine performs and how quickly businesses can achieve a return on their investment. 

This is where developments in eco-solvent printing technology will continue to play an important role. Epson's eco-solvent solutions have seen strong customer adoption because they combine quality, versatility and productivity with efficient ink consumption. As businesses look to protect profitability, I expect these practical benefits to become even more important. 
Automation will also be a significant focus. Reducing routine maintenance, minimising downtime and limiting the need for manual intervention can make a considerable difference to operating costs, particularly when businesses are trying to increase output without increasing their workforce. 

However, I also expect the conversation around sustainability in signage to become more sophisticated. Using fewer chemicals or switching to water based inks wherever possible is just the start. We need to consider the entire lifecycle of the printed product. 

For example, if outdoor signage needs to last three years, producing a durable print that lasts for that period can be more environmentally responsible than using an alternative that needs replacing every few months. 

I believe 2027 will be about helping signage businesses do more with the resources they already have. Technologies that combine reliability, lower running costs and long lasting output will be increasingly important, demonstrating that commercial efficiency and sustainability can go hand in hand.

2027 will be the year textile printing moves from faster machines to fully integrated production 

I believe one of the biggest changes we will see in textile printing during 2027 is a shift away from focusing purely on print speed towards greater automation and integration across the entire production process. 

For several years, manufacturers have concentrated on improving productivity, reliability and reducing printer downtime. This will remain important, particularly as demand for personalised garments, workwear, sportswear and promotional textiles continues to grow. However, as printers become faster and more dependable, the bottleneck simply moves elsewhere in the production chain. 

Direct-to-film (DTFilm) technology is a good example. With solutions such as Epson's SureColor SC-G6000 and SC-G9000, businesses can produce high quality transfers more efficiently, with automated maintenance reducing the need for operator intervention. But once printing capacity increases, processes such as powdering, curing, cutting and heat transfer must keep pace. 

By the end of 2027, I expect forward thinking print businesses to be investing in more integrated workflows, connecting printing and finishing equipment to minimise manual handling and eliminate these bottlenecks. Rather than treating each production stage as a separate operation, businesses will increasingly look at how the entire process can work together. 
This is particularly important against a backdrop of rising labour, energy and operating costs. Automation is not simply about producing more; it is about making better use of existing resources, improving consistency and ensuring businesses achieve a stronger return on their investment. 

The businesses that succeed will not necessarily be those with the fastest printers, but those that can turn printed output into finished, saleable products as efficiently and reliably as possible. In 2027, I expect that end to end productivity will become an increasingly important measure of success.

 EU textile waste legislation could drive a shift towards on-demand production and reshoring in 2027 

I believe 2027 could mark an important turning point for textile printing, as new European legislation puts greater pressure on the fashion industry to address overproduction and waste, creating opportunities for digital, on-demand manufacturing. 
From July 2026, large companies across the EU have been prohibited from destroying unsold clothing and footwear under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation. This is a key development, and one I hope will encourage brands to rethink how and where they manufacture their products. 

For too long, the fashion industry has relied on producing large quantities of garments, often overseas, without knowing whether they will sell. The result is considerable waste, with unwanted products frequently ending up in landfill or being shipped elsewhere for disposal. 

Digital printing offers an alternative. Rather than manufacturing 10,000 garments and hoping to sell them, brands can produce smaller quantities in response to actual demand, replenishing stock as required. This approach reduces the risk of overproduction while supporting the growing appetite for personalisation and customisation. 

It could also help reverse the recent trend towards offshoring. During and immediately after the pandemic, we saw businesses bringing textile production closer to home to shorten supply chains. Unfortunately, cost pressures have since pushed some of that work overseas again. 

My hope is that greater accountability for unsold stock will strengthen the commercial case for localised production in the UK and Europe. Of course, this will only work if local manufacturers can remain competitive. Reliable digital printing technology, automation, lower ink consumption and reduced downtime will be essential to controlling costs and maximising productivity. 

In 2027, that conversation will seriously shift from what can be done to produce garments at the lowest possible unit cost to understanding the true cost of overproduction. If brands can sell products before making them, or manufacture only what they need, there is a real opportunity to make textile production both more commercially viable and more sustainable. 

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