The Future of the Printing Industry

Manroland is a global manufacturer of printing presses and printing technology solutions, primarily serving the commercial, publishing, and packaging printing industries.

We speak with Daniel Godbold, Managing Director at Manroland Sheetfed UK to find out his insights into the future of the print industry. 1. How does Manroland see automation and AI reshaping offset and digital printing in the next 5–10 years?

Offset printing has always been the backbone of high-quality commercial and packaging print, and at Manroland, litho remains at the heart of our DNA. What is changing is not the essence of litho, but the intelligence built into it.

With our ROLAND Evolution series, automation features such as Autoprint (one-touch makeready), InlineColorPilot 3.0 for automatic colour control, and InlineInspector 3.0 for defect detection are revolutionising how presses run. These systems mean faster job changes, reduced waste, and consistent, premium output with minimal operator intervention.

Looking ahead, AI and data analytics will push this even further: predictive maintenance, self-optimising workflows, and remote monitoring will make presses that anticipate problems before they happen, ensuring maximum uptime and efficiency.

In the wider industry, digital printing will continue to grow for ultra-short runs, versioning, and personalisation, where speed and flexibility are paramount. But the real transformation will be in how offset and digital complement each other. Automation and AI will bridge the two: intelligent workflow software will route jobs seamlessly, optimising between digital for agility and litho for scale, quality, and cost-efficiency.

In the next decade, we see a print landscape where offset and digital no longer compete, but coexist, powered by automation, AI, and data to give printers the best of both worlds.

What breakthroughs in press technology are you most excited about for improving productivity and reducing downtime?

Every printer knows that setup times, plate changes, and stoppages are where profitability is won or lost.

“Our Roland 700 Evolution Speed is a perfect example of where the industry is going. With speeds of up to 20,000 sheets per hour, simultaneous plate loading, and DirectDrive technology, we’re seeing makeready times cut by up to 60%. That’s not just speed, it’s resilience.

What excites me is the holistic approach: presses that not only run faster but monitor themselves, integrate seamlessly into workflows, and can be upgraded modularly. For a printer, that means productivity you can rely on every day, not just when everything is perfect.”

How is Manroland supporting printers in diversifying their services to remain competitive?

Printers today are under pressure to do more than just print, they need to offer packaging, finishing, and specialty work to stand out.

“Diversification is essential. That’s why our presses are designed to be versatile: handling substrates from ultra-light paper to heavy board, and integrating modules like inline coating, foiling, and UV curing.

But technology is only half the story. Through ProServ 360°, we provide lifelong training, preventive maintenance, and workflow consultancy. Our engineers don’t just install machines, they work alongside customers to unlock new applications and help them enter markets like packaging and premium print. This combination of flexibility and service means our customers aren’t locked into one business model, they can evolve as the market evolves.”

How prepared is the industry for generational change as younger professionals enter leadership in print businesses?

Generational change is already reshaping print. This year at our Manroland World Tour event at Potts Print on 13^th March, I spoke about urgent priorities of: moving faster from plastic packaging to paper- and board-based alternatives, ands bringing more young people into our industry. “Coffee shops and call centres are full of clever people with university degrees that haven’t considered print as an option. We need to bring young, hungry, clever staff into our businesses.”

For instance, our Media and Marketing lead, Gitika Hariyan, joined us straight from university and has already been recognised with the BPIF Outstanding Achievement of the Year Award. She is a strong example of the creativity, energy, and ambition the next generation can bring into print.

To build on this momentum, we are in the planning stages of launching the Manroland Excellence School of Training. This initiative will focus on raising awareness of careers in print and packaging, giving young professionals the technical skills, confidence, and vision to become the leaders of tomorrow. Combined with our long-standing promise of free training for life, it shows our deep commitment to developing people as much as technology.

In a world where consumer habits of past decades have left us with environmental challenges, it falls to the new generation not only to help put things right, but to do so in a way that still keeps consumers buying and economies thriving. The difference is that now we can achieve this with sustainable choices, from paper- and board-based packaging to vegetable-oil-based litho inks, creating a cleaner future without compromising growth.

With the strength of German engineering, presses built to last but constantly evolving, and a clear investment in the next generation, I believe the industry is well prepared, provided we keep opening doors, champion sustainability, and show that print is not a trade of the past, but a career with real purpose and a bright future.

Why would you encourage someone out of school or university to pursue a career in the print industry?

“Because this is an industry where you can make a real impact. Print combines engineering, design, creativity, technology, sustainability and so much more!

For someone like Gitika, joining straight out of university, the opportunity to shape communication, branding, and market positioning came quickly. For engineers, the challenge of mastering automation and precision technology is deeply rewarding. And for those with entrepreneurial spirit, print offers countless opportunities to create value in packaging, publishing, or speciality applications.

It’s a career where creativity meets engineering, and where the results of your work are tangible and visible every day.”

What skills and job roles are in demand in 2025?

The future of print will be defined by a blend of technical expertise, digital fluency, leadership. On the technical side, there is growing demand for press engineers who can run highly automated litho systems, workflow managers who understand data-driven efficiency, and service technicians skilled in predictive maintenance, keeping downtime to an absolute minimum.

At the same time, the industry increasingly needs sustainability specialists to help customers transition from plastics to paper and board, marketers and communicators who can showcase the power of print, and customer experience managers who can translate technical capabilities into real business value.

What sets 2025 apart is that no single skill will be enough. The most in-demand people will be those who can bridge disciplines, engineers who understand data, communicators who grasp technology, and leaders who combine creativity with operational expertise. These hybrid skill sets are what will drive the next generation of print forward.

If you had to describe the print industry in 2025 in one sentence, what would it be?

“Print in 2025 is a high-tech, sustainable, and people-driven industry, where German-engineered presses powered by automation meet the creativity and ambition of a new generation.”

Looking for a recruitment partner in the print industry? At Pin Point Recruitment, we understand that the print industry is evolving — faster turnaround times, advanced technology, and the demand for skilled talent have never been greater. That’s why we’ve positioned ourselves as a trusted recruitment partner for print businesses across the UK.

We know the print sector — from traditional press operations to cutting-edge digital and packaging technologies — ensuring we find candidates with the right technical skills.

Whether you need temporary staff for a high-volume project or permanent hires for specialist roles, we build solutions around your business needs. Get in touch to find out more about how we can help to supply printing talent that delivers results.

Kieran.ashton@pin-point.co.uk