What We Must Focus on in 2026

Where will your business be by the end of 2026?

I entered the printer and consumables industry in 1990 with a simple idea: reuse before replace. My business collected empty printer cartridges, refilled them, and returned them to customers. Each cartridge was uniquely barcoded so my end-user customers could be confident they were receiving their original cartridge back. If an OEM cartridge cost $100, my remanufactured version cost $80. Customers saved money, reduced waste, and supported local jobs rather than importing new cartridges destined for landfill.

It was true recycling, long before “circular economy” became fashionable. And it worked. About the same time, tens of thousands of small “mom and pop” remanufacturers emerged around the world. It was a golden era for the aftermarket.

Then came the late 1990s. OEMs realised they were losing significant revenue in their lucrative “razor and blade” business model. Microchips were introduced to cartridges. Printers began rejecting reused products. Many believed the aftermarket was finished.

But the industry did not collapse. It adapted. Huge investments were made in chip development and reverse engineering. The aftermarket rallied. Innovation became its survival strategy.

Back then, there were more than 7,000 remanufacturers in the United States alone. Today, there are fewer than 100. Mergers, acquisitions, and consolidations swept through America and Europe, the world’s two largest office and home print markets. Many businesses disappeared; others merged or scaled.

Fast forward to today, where disruption continues. Paper usage is reportedly declining. Smart devices, cloud workflows, electronic document sharing, and AI are reshaping how information is created and consumed. The printed page is under pressure. Again.

Yet the reality is more nuanced.

The global paper industry has made remarkable progress in sustainability. Forests are responsibly managed, and recycling rates are high. Educators increasingly argue that learning outcomes improve when children read from paper rather than screens. Print remains relevant, but its role is evolving.

From my years living in Zhuhai, China, I have witnessed another transformation: the contraction of the aftermarket supply base. Twenty years ago, one reason for launching the RemaxWorld Expo was the density of suppliers. There were around 500 of them within 10 kilometres of the exhibition halls. Today, many have vanished. Consolidation, rising costs, and unsustainable pricing practices have reshaped the landscape. Some companies that sold below cost have disappeared. Quite frankly, that is not entirely bad for the industry’s long-term health.

So, where does this leave your business in 2026?

I am sure you want to do more than “survive.” You want a strategy to help you to “thrive.”

OEMs Are Rethinking Their Strategy

At last October’s RemaxWorld Summit in Zhuhai, Japanese-based industry expert Koichi Yoshizuka reported that OEMs in Japan are discovering a smarter way forward. Rather than competing as isolated brands, they are increasingly sharing core technologies and printer engines while maintaining distinct brand identities for marketing.

This shift reflects a broader truth: efficiency, scale, and collaboration are becoming essential. Not only for OEMs but also for the aftermarket. And also for your business, too.

Growth Beyond Traditional Office Print

While office and home printing appear stagnant, demand is accelerating in adjacent sectors. These markets represent some of the most promising opportunities for the imaging industry in 2026.

Textiles and digital fabric printing
Direct-to-garment (DTG), dye-sublimation, and direct-to-film (DTF) technologies are expanding rapidly, driven by custom fashion, e-commerce, and short production runs. Innovation in the ink sector is central to this growth.
Decoration and interior design
Digital printing is transforming wallpapers, furniture surfaces, ceramics, glass, and building materials. Consumers increasingly demand personalised and short-run decorative products. This is an ideal environment for advanced ink and toner solutions.
Brand protection and security printing
Counterfeiting is a global problem. Specialized inks, micro-printing, variable-data printing, and forensic marking technologies are becoming critical across pharmaceuticals, electronics, and luxury goods. This is a high-margin, technology-driven segment.
Packaging and labelling
The rise of e-commerce and sustainability requirements is reshaping packaging. Digital printing enables short runs, customisation, and rapid prototyping. Inkjet technologies are replacing traditional analogue processes across the food, beverage, and logistics sectors.

Many suppliers in China and beyond have already diversified into these industries. The question is: have you?

The Strategic Imperative for 2026

When you next visit China to source products for your distributors and end-user customers, ask your suppliers a different question:
Which industries beyond office print are you serving—and how can we participate?

The future of the printer and copier industry will not be defined solely by office volumes. It will be shaped by those who reposition themselves as imaging technology partners across multiple sectors.

Your business does not need to abandon its legacy. But it must expand its vision.

The aftermarket survived the chip revolution because it innovated. It will survive the digital revolution only if it does the same.

In 2026, survival is not enough.
Adaptation is essential.
Diversification is strategic.
And innovation is the only sustainable growth model.

Those who embrace this reality will not merely endure the industry’s transformation—they will lead it.

David Gibbons has 47 years of experience, knowledge and skills in business (management, consultancy, strategic planning) and communication (teaching, event management, fundraising, journalism, broadcasting and new/digital media—social, website, app development). He started and ran a successful cartridge remanufacturing business in Sydney and was also the Executive Officer of the Australasian Cartridge Remanufacturers’ Association for 7 years.

Until 2024, Gibbons has been a director in RT Media in Zhuhai, China, responsible for strategic planning, senior management, event planning, marketing, broadcasting and magazine publishing on behalf of the global imaging supplies industry. He is certainly aware of the challenges of remanufacturing in China.

His other blogs include:

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