What is the Future of the Printing Industry?
The global printing industry has been facing threats and uncertainty for decades, as the advent of new technology leads experts to question whether commercial printing services companies will become obsolete. Printing companies have so far persisted during the digital age, but COVID-19 brings new challenges.
Demand and production have fallen during the global pandemic, with the Chinese printing industry declining to just 20% of normal volumes earlier this year. However, operations have since recovered significantly, reaching last year’s levels in multiple industry segments. Also, while demand for some types of products has declined as businesses and consumers modify their habits, customers have also required new products, such as COVID-19 signage and printed products such as plexiglass shields.
As many countries face a second wave of the coronavirus, commercial printing services companies may have to deal with another drop in operations and revenues. However, the printing industry has the advantage of having already adapted their processes to function during the pandemic, which will help mitigate the challenges of a resurgence in virus infections. Like any other market, the global printing industry faces disruptions and setbacks due to COVID-19, but once the pandemic is brought under control, the industry is expected to recover and continue to evolve and adapt to new technologies and trends.
Who Are the Largest Printing Services Companies in the World in 2020?
There are many large printing services companies around the world, serving customers from global enterprises to small businesses and individual consumers. Here are some of the biggest printing companies in the world in 2020.
Company |
Headquarters |
Founded |
| Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA | Gütersloh, Germany | 1835 |
| Cenveo Inc. | Stamford, US | 1994 |
| Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd. | Tokyo, Japan | 1876 |
| Quad/Graphics | Sussex, US | 1971 |
| R.R. Donnelley | Chicago, US | 1864 |
| Toppan Printing Co. | Tokyo, Japan | 1900 |
| TC Transcontinental | Montreal, Canada | 1976 |
| Vistaprint | Waltham, US | 1995 |
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Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA
- Founded: 1835
- Headquarters: Gütersloh, Germany
- Employees: 126,000+
- Revenue: €18 billion (USD 21.2 billion)
Bertelsmann operates in the media, services, and education sectors, with a presence in 50 countries globally. The company offers printing services through the Bertelsmann Printing Group, and also owns RTL Group, Penguin Random House, Gruner + Jahr, BGM, and more. Together these businesses earned the company €18 billion in revenue in 2019, with Bertelsmann Printing Group generating €1.57 billion of that. The printing division encompasses a number of different companies operating in Germany, Europe, and beyond, offering a range of commercial printing services including offset and digital printing for magazines, catalogs, brochures, books, and packaging.
Cenveo Inc.
- Founded: 1994
- Headquarters: Stamford, US
- Employees: 6,000
Based in Stamford, US, Cenveo is one of the country’s largest printing companies with over 30 facilities and manufacturing operations around the world. The company provides printing services such as sheet-fed, web, large format and digital printing, as well as bindery, warehousing and fulfillment, and mailing. Cenveo produces, warehouses, and distributes its products both within the US and abroad, offering catalogs, brochures, direct mail, signage, books, magazines, and more.
Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd.
- Founded: 1876
- Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
- Employees: 38,000+
- Revenue: ¥1,401 billion (USD 13.2 billion)
With 30,000 corporate clients around the globe, Japan’s Dai Nippon Printing (DNP) is one of the world’s largest commercial printing companies. DNP began with book, magazine, and commercial printing and over the years as branched out into areas such as display components, packaging, decorative materials, and electronic devices. On top of printing, DNP also provides optical, packaging, information, living space, and sales promotion design services, along with publishing solutions.
Quad/Graphics
- Founded: 1971
- Headquarters: Sussex, US
- Employees: 22,000+
- Revenue: $3.9 billion
Quad/Graphics is a marketing solutions provider and a leading printing services company. With over 60 manufacturing and distribution facilities around the world, Quad offers marketing strategy services, creative solutions, media solutions, and marketing management services. The company’s commercial printing solutions include direct mail, magazines, books, catalogs, retail inserts, and more.
RR Donnelley
- Founded: 1864
- Headquarters: Chicago, US
- Employees: 43,000+
RR Donnelley (RRD) provides multichannel marketing and business communications solutions to 50,000 clients worldwide. The company operates over 250 locations in more than 30 countries, employing more than 43,000 people. RRD’s printing services include commercial print, forms (such as payroll and invoices), kitting and fulfillment, and labels, using a combination of sheet-fed, web, digital, and large-format presses.
Toppan Printing Co.
- Founded: 1900
- Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
- Employees: 52,000+
- Revenue: ¥1,486 billion (USD 14 billion)
With its roots in the traditional printing industry, Toppan has grown into a business that offers a range of products and services in the ICT, living and industry, and electronics sectors. The company utilizes the latest technologies in its commercial printing services with a network of 80 bases of operations around the world. Toppan Merrill, a part of Toppan Printing Co., offers a range of financial printing and communication solutions, including printing and distribution services.
TC Transcontinental
- Founded: 1976
- Headquarters: Montreal, Canada
- Employees: 8,500
- Revenue: CAD 3.0 billion (USD 2.3 billion)
One of Canada’s largest printing services companies and a North American leader in flexible packaging. TC Transcontinental Printing produces flyers, in-store marketing products, magazines, newspapers, books, and mass marketing products. The company also offers premedia and distribution services to over 2,000 customers in North America, and operates 14 printing plants across the country.
Vistaprint
- Founded: 1995
- Headquarters: Waltham, US
- Employees: 2,800+
- Revenue: $1.5 billion
Vistaprint, a part of the global conglomerate Cimpress, provides commercial printing services tailored to small businesses and individuals. The company’s high-volume production facilities allow it to serve over 11 million customers per year, with 24 localized websites serving over 130 countries around the world. Vistaprint’s products include business cards, marketing materials, signs and banners, stationery, labels and stickers, and more. The company also offers design and marketing services.
Which Commercial Printing Services Companies Lead the Market Near You?
These are only a few of the top printing companies in the world. Discover more commercial printing services businesses through BizVibe’s global marketplace.
