Every year, PRINTING United gives the printing industry a glimpse into where technology is headed. With more than 800 exhibitors, hundreds of product launches, live equipment demonstrations, and education sessions, this year's show in Las Vegas (September 23–25) promises to be one of the largest and most innovative yet. (PRINTING United Expo)

Here are some of the trends we expect to dominate the show.

Automation Continues to Be the Biggest Story

If there is one theme you'll notice throughout the exhibition halls, it's automation.

Manufacturers continue to focus on reducing labor while increasing production throughput.

Expect to see:

• Automated media handling
• Improved take-up and unwind systems
• Barcode-driven workflows
• Automated maintenance routines
• Workflow software that connects multiple devices
• UV printing continues to grow in many different segments

Labor remains one of the biggest expenses for print shops. Nearly every major manufacturer is investing heavily in technology that reduces operator intervention while increasing consistency.

Artificial Intelligence Is Coming to Print

Artificial Intelligence has become impossible to ignore.

PRINTING United is expanding its educational programming around AI, with sessions focused on helping print providers understand how AI can improve workflow efficiency, automation, customer service, estimating, and production planning.

While AI won't replace experienced print technicians anytime soon, it will become another tool that helps shops work smarter.

Workflow Software Is Becoming More Important Than Ever

Years ago, buyers focused almost entirely on the printer.

Today, the software behind the printer may be just as important.

Expect to see demonstrations of:

• RIP software improvements
• Better color management
• Automated nesting
• Production scheduling
• Job costing
• Variable data workflows

The companies investing in workflow automation are often improving profitability without adding additional equipment.

Color Management Will Continue to Evolve

Color accuracy continues to be one of the most requested topics among decorators and commercial printers.

Look for demonstrations involving:

• Advanced ICC profiling
• Expanded color gamut workflows
• Spectrophotometer integration
• G7 process control
• Automated calibration

As customers continue demanding consistent brand colors across multiple print technologies, color management will remain one of the industry's highest priorities.

Finishing Equipment Is Becoming Smarter

Printing is only half of the production process. Once the transfers come off the printer, they still need to be finished quickly, accurately, and consistently. That's why finishing equipment continues to become faster, more automated, and more precise—and for DTF decorators, that's becoming increasingly important.

At PRINTING United, DTF Tech Gurus will be demonstrating the Summa S Class 3 T Series Cutter for DTF transfers. While the Summa cutter has been an industry leader in vinyl cutting for years, DTF Tech Gurus, Wasatch, and Summa have worked together to create a seamless workflow specifically for DTF production.

When paired with Wasatch SoftRIP, registration marks are automatically generated during the RIP process and printed with the job. At the same time, all contour cut information is encoded into a QR code. The Summa cutter simply scans the QR code, retrieves the correct job data, and automatically applies the proper cut paths—eliminating manual setup and reducing operator intervention.

The Summa S Class 3 T Series utilizes Tangential Knife Technology, which actively controls the knife position instead of relying on a free-swiveling blade. This provides exceptional cutting precision, especially on intricate contours and thicker materials, delivering:

• Extremely accurate contour cutting
• Sharper corners and cleaner details
• Better performance on thicker materials
• Consistent production quality
• Industrial durability for high-volume production

Unlike many flatbed cutting systems, the Summa roll-fed workflow also keeps your transfers in sequence as they are cut. Instead of individual transfers being scattered into a collection bin or onto the floor, the finished transfers remain organized on the roll, making sorting, handling, and heat pressing significantly more efficient.

For high-volume production environments, the system can also be configured with template-based layouts for gang sheets and nested images, making it an ideal solution for automated workflows that incorporate conveyors, robotic handling systems, and rotary heat presses.

Whether you're looking to reduce labor, improve cutting accuracy, or automate your finishing department, this is a workflow worth seeing.

If you're attending PRINTING United, stop by Booth C723 and see the Summa S Class 3 T Series in action. We'd be happy to demonstrate the workflow and answer any questions you have.

DTF Equipment Continues to Mature

One thing we'll be watching closely is how DTF equipment continues to evolve.

Instead of simply adding more printheads or claiming higher speeds, manufacturers appear to be placing greater emphasis on:

• Improved white ink circulation
• More reliable maintenance systems
• Better ink chemistry
• Enhanced RIP software
• More consistent color management
• Increased production stability

Whether these claims translate into real-world performance or are simply part of the marketing message remains to be seen. We haven't had the opportunity to evaluate every machine on the market, so we'll be walking the show floor with the same mindset as many of you—asking tough questions about uptime, maintenance requirements, consumable costs, and long-term reliability to separate genuine innovation from sales hype.

Sustainability Remains a Major Focus

Environmental responsibility continues to influence product development throughout the printing industry.

Expect to see innovations involving:

• Lower VOC materials
• Improved energy efficiency
• Sustainable media
• Reduced waste workflows
• Recyclable packaging
• More efficient curing technologies

Many manufacturers are finding ways to reduce operating costs while simultaneously improving sustainability.

Education May Be the Most Valuable Part of the Show

One of the biggest mistakes attendees make is spending all three days looking only at equipment.

PRINTING United offers dozens of educational sessions covering topics including automation, AI, workflow optimization, color management, business growth, and production efficiency.

Often, the ideas you take home from a seminar can generate a greater return than the equipment you purchase.

Our Advice

If you're attending PRINTING United this year, go in with a plan.

Bring your own artwork, prepare a list of tough questions, and most importantly, come with a thirst for knowledge. The show floor is filled with some of the most experienced professionals in the printing industry, and there's no better opportunity to learn from the engineers, technicians, and product specialists who design, build, and support the equipment.

Don't just evaluate the printers—evaluate the entire workflow. Watch how jobs are processed through the RIP software, ask about maintenance requirements, compare consumable costs, and learn what technical support looks like after the equipment is installed in your shop.

If you'll be in Las Vegas,  let us know - we'd love to meet up with you - email us marketing@dtftechgurus.com. We'll be demonstrating the Summa S Class 3 T Series DTF Cutter with Tangential Knife Technology and would be happy to answer your questions about DTF production, finishing, workflow optimization, and building a reliable production environment.

We look forward to seeing you at PRINTING United!