The UV printing market is set to grow quickly in the coming years, as more businesses seek high-resolution packaging and labels to make their products stand out – which presents opportunities for resellers.
While print volumes in traditional sectors such as office have been generally declining for some years, other areas of the sector have been gaining popularity, such as UV printing.
UV printing has been growing in popularity as users value it for the textured special effects it can produce and how it can be used on a wide range of surfaces and ink cures almost instantly. For print businesses, this can be a useful addition to existing services.
A report by Mobility Foresights in February, entitled UK UV Cured Printing Ink Market Size, Share, Trends and Forecasts 2032 found that The UK UV cured printing ink market is projected to grow from $4.35 billion in 2025 to $7.92 billion by 2032, registering a CAGR of 8.9%. Of course, if the ink market is expected to grow, so is demand for UV printers.
This growth will be driven by expanding demand for high-resolution packaging and label printing, particularly in FMCG, pharmaceuticals and personal care segments, Mobility Foresights reports.
There are various reasons for this growth. For instance, as Mobility Foresights notes, UV inks deliver superior colour density, rub resistance and chemical resistance, enabling premium packaging aesthetics and durability.
In addition, the transition toward LED-UV curing systems is increasing adoption due to energy savings and reduced heat impact on substrates. The market is expected to maintain strong growth across UK through 2032.
Breadth of applications
“Demand for UV printing continues to grow strongly across the UK and Ireland as businesses look for more versatile production technologies that allow them to expand into new applications and markets,” says Andy Gregory, sales director at Hybrid Services Ltd, the UK distributor for Mimaki.
“While sign and display remain the most active sector, demand is also increasing across retail, interior décor, promotional products, packaging, industrial marking and personalised production. Much of that growth is being driven by the flexibility UV technology offers across rigid and roll media.”
There are various reasons for the growth in UV printing in recent years – and why it is predicted to carry on growing. “Customers are increasingly attracted to UV printing because of its breadth of application, instant curing and production efficiency,” says Andy.
“The ability to print onto materials ranging from vinyl and films through to acrylic, wood, metal and promotional items creates significant commercial opportunities. Mimaki’s UV portfolio reflects that diversity, from the new Mimaki UJV200 Series wide format roll-to-roll model through to the hybrid capabilities of the Mimaki UJ330H-160 and the production-focused Mimaki UCJV330-160. The portfolio also includes highly successful flatbed technology, from the A2/A3 size Mimaki UJF Series up to the grand format 8’ x 4’ Mimaki JFX models.”
There are an increasing range of UV printers on the market. For instance, earlier this year, Soyang Europe signed a distribution agreement with Platinum Technologies Liyu to supply the manufacturer’s large-format print hardware across the UK.
Several machines from the Liyu range are now available, including the new Liyu Signature H3340 UV hybrid printer, which can run at speeds of up to 350sqm/hr and supports resolutions up to 2400dpi, with colour options including CMYK, light cyan, light magenta, white and neon inks.
Trends
As the Mobility Foresight report noted, there are various trends in the sector, and customers have distinct demands on the printers they purchase. “Customers are demanding greater flexibility, easier workflows and more sustainable production methods,” says Andy.
“LED UV curing remains a major advantage due to lower energy consumption and reduced heat, while white ink capability, layered printing effects and increasingly automated workflows continue to open new creative and commercial opportunities. A roll-to-roll UV printer offers an extraordinary breadth of opportunity thanks to its ability to print onto such a wide range of media, which in turn allows a print business to offer an equally wide range of products, so responding to customer demands becomes easier.”
Getting into the market
With strong growth predicted in the UV market in the coming years, this is a market that could be profitable for resellers if they move into it. “For resellers, success comes from understanding the potential applications and being able to advise customers accordingly,” says Andy.
“Customers increasingly want solutions that help them diversify, reduce turnaround times and unlock additional revenue streams. Demonstrating practical applications and identifying potential new markets is an excellent way to empower customers to make key investment decisions.”
Future
As mentioned, the UV printing market is expected to grow strongly for the foreseeable future. “UV printing is expected to remain one of the fastest moving areas of the wide format market,” says Andy.
“As systems become more accessible, easier to operate and more application-focused – such as the introduction of the Mimaki UJV200 Series – adoption is likely to continue expanding well beyond traditional sign and graphics production.”
