When the FESPA Global Print Expo opens its doors in Berlin on May 6, 2025, trade visitors can look forward to more than 100 product launches. In this article, I’ll highlight the trends in hardware and software.
FESPA Global Print Expo 2025, taking place in Berlin from May 6 to 9, 2025, is Europe’s leading trade show for screen and digital printing, large-format printing, and textile printing. Hundreds of exhibitors are expected; the European Sign Expo, a concurrent event, alone is expected to welcome around 120.
Exhibitors have already announced around 100 product launches. However, the trade show is taking place against a challenging political and economic backdrop. This is also likely to have an impact on trade show trends in the hardware and software sectors. In addition to overarching trends that have been prevalent for years—such as digitization and automation —new topics such as cost and energy efficiency, as well as supply chain security, are coming to the fore.
Printing companies are now more than ever forced to differentiate themselves and seek out new markets, such as in the production of personalized products, textile printing, or printed electronics.
This also has a significant impact on purchasing decisions for hardware and software. Overall, buyers are expected to rely more on established vendors. When it comes to machines in particular, issues such as maintenance and energy costs, the availability of replacement parts, and the durability of the hardware are becoming even more important.
The 5th generation of Swissqprint printers is 23% faster and particularly versatile thanks to ten ink channels. Photo: Swissqprint.
Industrial Digital Printing Hardware
At Fespa Global Print Expo 2025, virtually all established manufacturers will be introducing new models or showcasing them to a large European audience for the first time. For example, the fifth generation of Swissqprint’s flatbed printers with UV-curing inks (27-C60) was already announced in January 2025. It is based on the popular Kurdu platform and is 23% faster than its predecessors. All machines also feature ten freely configurable ink channels.
In contrast, two brand-new digital printers featuring water-based Aquafuze UV ink technology—which Fujifilm is unveiling in Berlin—are brand new, as is the new Acuity Ultra Hybrid Pro model with full automation and UV-curable inks. The company has divided its new products between booths B60 and A61 in Hall 25. Each is tailored to different market segments.
The Durst Group (27-B35) has announced that it will showcase its first product resulting from its ongoing merger with Aleph SrL. in Berlin. The Durst LF Series Graphics is based on the Aleph-Laforte platform and is suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications. The machines are available with either a printing bed for stretchy textiles or a vacuum feed system for paper. They use water-based inks for direct or transfer sublimation printing.
Epson’s new SureColor S7100 eco-solvent printer offers faster print speeds thanks to its PrecisionCore Micro TFP printhead. Photo: Epson.
Wide-format printer
A number of new products have also been announced for the FESPA Global Print Expo in the wide-format digital printer category—that is, printers with a print width of less than 3.20 meters.
Epson (2.2-A20) recently announced the SureColor S7100 signage printer, a 64-inch (163 cm) model. The eco-solvent printer with four color channels offers higher print speeds thanks to the PrecisionCore Micro TFP printhead and generates less waste thanks to ink packs that now hold 800 ml.
The highlight product at the Mutoh booth(27-B65) will likely be the new HydrAton 1642. This roll-to-roll printer for materials up to 64 inches wide uses an innovative, water-based UV ink. It offers excellent adhesion on a wide variety of coated and uncoated media. In addition, the manufacturer plans to unveil the compact XpertJet C641SR Pro print-and-cut model for roll media up to 24 inches wide, as well as the XpertJet 1682UR, a UV-LED printer for materials up to 163 cm wide, at the event in Berlin.
At the FESPA Global Print Expo, Mimaki (1.2-B20) is showcasing its first DTF printer with UV-curable inks, the UJV300DTF-75 model. It prints onto an adhesive film that is first applied to a transfer medium. From there, the image is transferred to the object. This is intended to expand the range of applications and design possibilities while reducing the risk of printing errors.
In addition to hardware, Zünd will also be showcasing its extensive software portfolio at the FESPA Global Print Expo 2025. Photo: Zünd.
Software and Ecosystems at FESPA Global Print Expo 2025
Booths run by software manufacturers at trade shows are usually much less crowded than those featuring printing presses. And this is despite the fact that digital infrastructure today contributes at least as much to the success of a digital print shop as the printing presses themselves. Consequently, hardware and software are often so closely integrated that they are supplied by a single vendor.
For example, in March 2025, HP introduced the HP PrintOS Production Hub alongside the HP Latex R530 printer. The printer will be on display at booth 4.2-A20, where visitors will also have the opportunity to experience the PrintOS Production Hub for large-format printing.
Zünd, a manufacturer of digital cutting tables, also sees itself as a systems provider and is therefore bringing its PortaBase 175 robotic solution for
fully automated processes—in addition to the S3 and G3 cutters—as well as its comprehensive software suite, including Design Center, Cut-Center, Zünd Connect, Prime Center, PreCut Center, and Mind to Booth 27-B30.
The latest version of Dataline’s MIS/ERP software, MultiPress 6.0 Sirius, offers numerous new features. Photo: Dataline
Industry Solutions and RIPs
Colorgate (27-D16) promises to present a major innovation in the field of digital printing in Berlin. The Automation Production Server is a specialized product designed to optimize digital print automation. It is intended to enable seamless integration and, as a result, a more efficient, cost-effective production environment.
Dataline (27-D90) aims to help reduce the administrative burden associated with large-format printing through its MultiPress MIS/ERP business software. Today, these costs can account for up to 40% of total expenses. The latest version, MultiPress 6.0 Sirius, offers a new AI assistant, MultiPress Cloud, and a comprehensive set of MultiPress app tools.