Inkjet Printhead - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2024 - 2029)

The Inkjet Printhead Market size is estimated at USD 3.06 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 3.78 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 4.28% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

Driven by expanding applications across multiple sectors, growing demand for digital printing solutions, and technical developments, the global inkjet print head market presents significant possibilities for manufacturers, suppliers, and stakeholders. It is anticipated that the inkjet print head market will flourish and change in response to shifting consumer expectations and market dynamics by resolving obstacles and seizing growth opportunities.

Key Highlights

• Technological proliferation and rising applications in offices and personal space are expected to augment the demand for inkjet printheads globally. In addition to using inkjet printers in commercial printing businesses to make high-quality brochures, pamphlets, and other materials, these printers are commonly used in homes and small offices.
• Multifunctional printers are frequently used in business offices and educational settings. These versatile printers can do copying, printing, managing paper, scanning, and faxing. Thus, their demand is increasing, notably at educational institutions.
• Several multifunctional inkjet printers offer Wi-Fi, LCD screens, USB, touch, and Bluetooth connectivity options, improving their usability and control. They are more cost-effective compared to single-functional inkjet printers. In 2022, Epson Printers led the global office hardware technology industry with a market share of 7.6%, according to Datanyze.
• However, compared to other printing technologies, the high cost of inkjet printheads continues to be a major barrier, restricting industry growth and acceptance rates despite the technology's many breakthroughs and benefits. Many consumers and organizations find it difficult to enter the printhead market due to the significant expenditure necessary for printhead acquisition, installation, and maintenance, especially in emerging regions and cost-sensitive industries.
• Piezoelectric drop-on-demand printheads and other low-power consumption technologies are anticipated to see increased demand in the post-COVID-19 market environment as end users increasingly prioritize sustainability in their daily business operations. Market participants are also working to increase customer awareness of their heat-free technologies.

Inkjet Printhead Market Trends

Industrial Printing to Witness Major Growth

• The global market for industrial inkjet printheads is expected to witness growth during the forecast period due to a boost in the application of these printers for printing on packaging material. Inline printing of batch data and codes is constantly done during the packaging process with inkjet printers. The problems that are commonly brought on by contact printing techniques like embossing, similar to blurry or missing prints, as well as holes in films, are eliminated with these printers. Labels, foils, packaging, leaflets, and cartons are just some of the digital printing applications that use industrial inkjet printers.
• Digital textile inkjet printers are designed to print directly on various natural and synthetic fabrics. The effective printing capabilities of the printer increase speeds and volumes of manufacturing. A digital textile printer is the best option for commercial and industrial textile printing since it can print on various fabrics and garments, including cotton, silk, wool, and mixes.
• Glass and other extremely smooth plastics are increasingly used in packaging, but printing over such surfaces presents difficulties. As a result, the market for drop-on-demand inkjet printing inks is anticipated to benefit greatly from developing inks for printing on glass surfaces.
• The inkjet printing business has experienced a significant shift because of digitization, which now encompasses product personalization, innovation, and communication that closely match the expanding possibilities of digital printing. Customers want interactive features and comprehensive information about the products. The gadgets have technological elements such as virtual reality and QR codes with links to social media.
• The inkjet printing process is particularly intriguing for applications in the printed electronics industry because it enables quick prototyping and is compatible with a range of substrates as well as conductive, semiconductive, and dielectric inks that can be cured at low temperatures, low production costs, eco-friendly technologies, and a variety of substrate options. The rise in the demand for flexible electronics applications is expected to propel the market forward. For example, the number of individuals using digital health and fitness trackers is expected to rise exponentially over the forecast period.

Asia-Pacific to Register Major Growth

• The inkjet printhead market in Asia-Pacific is anticipated to grow significantly during the forecast period. The market's growth is attributed to the low labor and manufacturing costs, making Asia-Pacific a popular location for companies seeking to establish their production facilities for manufacturing inkjet printheads.
• Asia-Pacific is rising as one of the largest markets for printing ink, driven by economies such as China, India, and several other rapidly developing nations. The region is home to various international ink makers, such as DIC, Sakata INX, and Toyo Ink, among others, with a significant market presence.
• China is a major supplier of innovative chemicals, such as ink and solvent components, which are crucial input materials for the printing processes and a source of supply for many European printing enterprises. Smartphone manufacturers are increasingly investing in the production of these printers, which is further driving the market.
• In March 2024, Japan-based Kyocera Corporation introduced its new inkjet printhead with ink recirculation technology at the nozzle. The company's KJ4B-EX600-RC printhead helps to gain productivity over a wide range of printing applications, such as textiles, building materials, and corrugated boards. The product is compatible with a wide range of inks. It also features ink recirculation at the nozzle, which helps with compatibility with fast-drying inks, among others, over a broader range of applications. The solution also ensures higher productivity, high driving frequency, and greater maximum drop volume. It offers customers high print quality through the company's monolithic piezo actuator, and the simple and robust flow channel structure achieves durability. Kyocera's printhead technology also enables continuous printing to improve productivity in industrial printing operations.
• Overall, the growing advantages of digital printing, which include immediate, customizable printing in any quantity while reducing environmental impact by eliminating liquid waste, have increased the demand for digital printing, including inkjet printing.
• The rapid expansion from traditional paper media into textiles, food-grade packaging, and building materials, as well as the diversification of ink formulations to increase productivity and accommodate a broader range of applications, is propelling the market's growth. Consequently, the demand for printheads that can handle a variety of inks at high speeds is rising for better print resolutions and enhanced durability requirements.

Inkjet Printhead Industry Overview

The global inkjet printhead market is highly fragmented due to the presence of both global players and small and medium-sized enterprises. Some of the major players in the market are Ricoh Company Ltd, FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, Canon Inc., Konica Minolta Inc., and XAAR PLC. Players in the market are adopting strategies such as partnerships and acquisitions to enhance their product offerings and gain sustainable competitive advantage.

• In December 2023, the Construction of a new factory at Seiko Epson Corporation's group company, Akita Epson Corporation, was completed with a total investment of JPY 3.5 billion (USD 23 million). The new factory is designed to approximately triple Akita Epson's future printhead production capacity. With the increasing demand for commercial and industrial inkjet printers and a technology shift from analog to digital in industries, such as digital textile printing, there is a rising demand for commercial and industrial inkjet printers with PrecisionCore MicroTFP printheads for increased flexibility. The new Akita Epson factory will speed up the production and assembly of printheads to keep pace with the increased production of MicroTFP print chips.
• In September 2023, for customers looking for high-performance print heads for additive manufacturing, such as sand casting and metal binder jetting, FUJIFILM Dimatrix Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of FUJIFILM Corporation, launched the FUJIFILM Dimatrix STARFIRE SG1024 L3F. The company is a leading global manufacturer and supplier of piezoelectric, dropped-on-demand industrial inkjet print heads.

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