Q2 2026 Market Review: Key Developments Shaping the Printing & Imaging Supplies Industry

With the first half of 2026 now complete, it’s time to look back at the key developments that shaped the printing & imaging supplies industry. Let’s dive in.

OEMs continue restructuring manufacturing and partnerships

Ricoh sold its dormant subsidiary, Ricoh (Shenzhen) Industrial Development Co., Ltd., to Shenzhen Hongbang Zhilian Enterprise Management Co., Ltd., at a price of about RMB 900 million (about USD 132 million), while Canon closed its laser printer manufacturing plant in the Philippines due to the decline of the office laser printer market.

Sharp and Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn) have established a strategic collaboration framework, incorporating Foxconn’s technology portfolio, global manufacturing capabilities, supply chain resources, and business development platform with Sharp’s brand, market channels, and service network.

OEMs continue optimizing manufacturing footprints while strengthening strategic partnerships to improve competitiveness.

Chinese aftermarket continues to consolidate

China’s consumables industry continued its consolidation during Q2. Several long-established players either exited the market or underwent ownership changes, reflecting growing pressure on traditional consumables businesses.

Hubei Dinglong announced its exit from the printing consumables business, completing its multi-year strategic shift toward semiconductor materials and high-end innovation sectors. Following the announcement, leading Chinese printing consumables brand Befon acquired a 60% controlling stake of Hubei Dinlong’s subsidiary, Mito and Retech, for RMB 120 million (USD 17.6 million).

Suzhou GoldenGreen entered the delisting process, effective June 23. After the expiration of the delisting arrangement period, expected to be July 13, the company’s shares will be removed from the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and its listing status will be terminated.

AI Moves Beyond Features to Business Services

Beyond hardware innovation, Q2 also demonstrated how AI is becoming a strategic business capability rather than simply another printer feature.

Xerox launched Xerox IT as a Service (ITaaS), a new AI-driven IT services platform combining managed IT services, automation, procurement, and operational monitoring. The platform is aimed primarily at small and mid-sized businesses and mid-market organizations.

Thanks to its partnership with Skysat Technologies Ghana Limited, Konica Minolta has launched the Konica Minolta Print Experience Centre, providing businesses and institutions in Ghana with access to AI-enabled printing and imaging technology. The facility is aimed at supporting the corporate, commercial and production printing sectors with advanced printing solutions that incorporate automation, cloud integration and enhanced security features.

Ricoh and Rise Consulting Group have jointly established Ricoh AI Consulting Co., Ltd. to help organizations implement artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives aimed at addressing business and operational challenges. The joint venture combines Ricoh’s AI technologies, customer base, and AI solution development capabilities with Rise Consulting Group’s expertise in AI strategy, implementation, and organizational adoption.

Notable Product Launches in Q2

New product launches during Q2 revealed several consistent priorities, including:

Sustainability & Efficiency
Enterprise security
Workflow automation
Lower operating costs
AI integration
Color office printing

In April, Pantum released its new Vibrant 25 Series printers, addressing office demands for color printing, workflow efficiency, and cost management. In May, Pantum introduced a new AI-powered multifunction printer, a family-oriented smart printing solution designed to support education, communication, and daily life across different age groups.

Canon launched new A3 MFPs under the imageRUNNER ADVANCE DX C5800 RM Series, the imageFORCE C3100 Series, and the imageFORCE 4100 Series. All models are designed to provide enterprise scalability, fleet consistency, high-resolution output, security features, and sustainability-focused design.

Ricoh released seven A3 black-and-white multifunction printers (MFPs) in the Asia Pacific region, focusing on reliability, security, and efficiency. The series is designed to deliver consistent document output while supporting office workflows and enterprise information management.

Konica Minolta launched bizhub C288i, an A3 color multifunction printer (MFP), designed to support digital transformation initiatives in small and medium-sized offices facing shortages of IT personnel.

Epson Australia launched the EcoTank ET-2920 and EcoTank ET-4900 to meet increasing demand for lower operating costs and reduced maintenance requirements.

Xerox released its first A4 color printers and MFPs range under the company’s unified brand after its integration with Lexmark. The new release supports post-quantum cryptography (PQC), features an energy-efficient design with more than 50% post-consumer recycled plastic, and is compatible with the Xerox App for device management, printing, and scanning.

Fujifilm Europe launched two new A3 color MFPs, providing a consistent user experience and security architecture across the range.

To summarize, nearly all major OEM launches in Q2 focused on four priorities: A3 office platforms, color printing, enterprise workflow, and sustainability. Perhaps the most notable shift is that OEMs are increasingly emphasizing business value rather than print performance.

What Q2 Means for the Industry

Four developments stand out:

OEMs continue to optimize manufacturing capacity while investing in strategic partnerships.
AI is evolving from a printer feature into a broader business service and workflow platform.
Sustainability remains a key product development priority through remanufacturing, energy efficiency, and lower operating costs.
The traditional consumables market continues to consolidate as companies diversify into higher-growth sectors, including semiconductors, automation, and enterprise services.

Industry Perspectives

“The future of our industry isn’t the page anymore. It’s what happens around the page.”

——Art Post, founder of the Print4Pay Hotel community

“The real shift is not the disappearance of print, but the gradual movement of value toward new layers of the business.”

——Gustavo Molinatti, Publisher of Guía del Reciclador

“If Epson can create new opportunities by applying printing technology outside conventional printers, could an aftermarket company do something similar?”

——Koichi Yoshizuka, CEO of QRIE Ltd.

“Printing becomes just one step in a broader intelligent document pipeline.”

——Graham Galliford, Industry Consultant

RTMworld Observation

The developments of Q2 suggest the industry is entering a new phase where growth is increasingly driven by software, workflow automation, AI services, and adjacent technologies rather than printing volumes alone. While hardware innovation continues, competitive advantage is shifting toward integrated solutions and diversified business models.

What’s your take on Q1? Share your insights in the comments below.

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Maggie Wang has been delivering valuable information and updates about the imaging industry through RT channels (website, magazines, and social media platforms) during the past 10 years. She has also extensively covered major events such as the annual RemaxWorld Expo and VIP Imaging Expos through press releases, articles, and interview videos. She can be contacted at <Maggie.Wang@rtmworld.com>.

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Q2 2026 Market Review: Key Developments Shaping the Printing & Imaging Supplies Industry

OEMs continue restructuring manufacturing and partnerships

Chinese aftermarket continues to consolidate