Your Weekly Large-Format Print Briefing | Week 44, 2025
Last week brought practical, real-world wins rather than shiny prototypes. Roland focused on smarter workflows, Agfa deepened its channel strength in Northern Europe, Avery Dennison refined the art of premium protection, and the print community rallied around leadership with FEMPIRE 2025.
Here’s what mattered — and why.
📢 This Week in Wide Format Brief
Agfa expands UK & Nordic reach via Friedheim International
Roland DG updates VersaWorks 7 & Connect Designer for remote productivity
Roland adds two media lines: adhesive canvas + view-thru film
Avery Dennison launches Neo™ Matte Black PPF for stealth wraps
Girls Who Print announces 2025 theme “FEMPIRE – Build it. Own it. Rule it.”
📰 Top 5 Headlines This Week
Agfa strengthens its UK & Nordics footprint through Friedheim International
Summary:
Agfa named Friedheim International its distribution partner for hybrid and roll-to-roll inkjet systems across the UK and Nordics, tightening regional sales, demo, and service coverage.
Key takeaways:
Friedheim’s finishing clientele gains a direct path to Agfa inkjet hardware.
Faster local response times and financing options expected.
Signals Agfa’s post-drupa focus on regional depth over new-model flash.
Why It Matters:
Strong local service drives investment confidence. UK and Nordic shops now have a smoother route to upgrade without cross-border support delays.
Roland DG boosts VersaWorks 7 and Connect Designer for multi-site workflows
Summary:
Roland’s software team delivered a meaningful production upgrade: remote printing, cloud backup/restore, and expanded 20-job queues / 8-printer support, plus new Connect Designer visualization tools.
Key takeaways:
Operators can push jobs off-site — ideal for hybrid work setups.
Automatic backup protects RIP data against hardware loss.
Larger queues cut downtime between shift handovers.
Why It Matters:
No-cost productivity gains often beat new hardware. Testing the new backup and remote print features now can prevent Q4 bottlenecks.
Roland DGA introduces adhesive canvas & view-thru film for décor and glass
Summary:
Roland expanded its media catalog with Semi-Gloss Adhesive Canvas (ESM-SGAC) and View Thru Adhesive Film (ESM-VTAF) to simplify wall and window installations.
Key takeaways:
Canvas mounts directly—no frames, faster wall installs.
Perforated 80/20 film ideal for storefront privacy or retail refreshes.
Multi-ink compatibility suits eco-solvent, latex, and UV users.
Why It Matters:
Consumables that save installer time create instant margin. Smart move from Roland: helping shops profit from interior branding jobs, not just banner work.
Avery Dennison unveils Neo™ Matte Black Paint Protection Film
Summary:
Avery Dennison’s latest wet-apply Neo™ Matte Black PPF blends color-change aesthetics with self-healing protection, backed by a 7-year warranty.
Key takeaways:
8.5-mil film combines style + durability for premium vehicles.
Hydrophobic topcoat resists swirl marks and UV fade.
Complements existing Neo Noir Gloss Black PPF line.
Why It Matters:
Vehicle-wrap and fleet graphics shops can upsell “stealth plus protection” packages, tapping higher-margin clients without new equipment investment.
Girls Who Print sets 2025 theme: “FEMPIRE – Build it. Own it. Rule it.”
Summary:
The annual Girls Who Print Day returns 13 November 2025 (online, 10 AM–3 PM ET), spotlighting leadership, mentorship, and ownership across print disciplines.
Key takeaways:
Focus on practical career growth + visibility.
Canon and DM 2.0 among early sponsors.
Free registration encourages company-wide participation.
Why It Matters:
Talent retention and leadership diversity directly influence client trust. Encouraging team attendance strengthens both culture and brand reputation.
🎯 This Week’s Strategic Takeaway
Efficiency is the new growth strategy.
Roland’s software updates and media releases prove the smartest ROI comes from tighter workflows, not new boxes. Agfa’s regional alignment shows that access + support = sales confidence. Evaluate your 2026 budget through that lens: optimize before you upgrade.
❌ This Week’s Noise
Some outlets framed Agfa’s distribution deal as “market domination.” In reality, it’s a service-coverage win — valuable, yes, but not a paradigm shift. Focus on the implementation quality, not press-release superlatives.
📅 What’s Coming Up
🗓️ GRAPHICS PRO EXPO
November 6–8, 2025 | Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte, NC, USA
Focuses on wide-format printing, vehicle wraps, shop tools, DTF/sublimation, and personalization, with workshops starting November 5.
🔗 graphics-pro-expo.com
🗓 Girls Who Print Day – FEMPIRE 2025 (Online)
November 13, 2025 | 💻 10:00–15:00 ET | Free virtual summit focused on leadership, mentorship & visibility.
🔗Girls Who Print
🧠 Smarter Every Week
Before upgrading your RIP PC, back up job data and verify a restore test — do it now, not after December’s rush.
Thanks for reading this week’s Wide Format Brief from Printing TLDR — delivering the insights that actually move print shops forward. Until next time, keep printing!
Smarter printing starts here.