Wide Format Brief — Your Weekly Large Format Print Briefing (Week 45, 2025)
Last week (Nov 3–9, 2025) delivered one shippable 64″ solvent platform, a textile-media acquisition that will ripple through Europe, a notable OEM software pivot, and a 2026 event expansion that packages corrugated and textile under the FESPA umbrella.
Here’s what mattered — minus the fluff.
📢 This Week in Wide Format Brief
Epson’s 64″ SureColor S7170 moved from announcement to availability in the channel.
Antalis acquired Texo Trade Services, tightening Europe’s textile/transfer-media pipeline.
HYBRID Software launched its Helix OEM business, focusing on embedded print intelligence.
FESPA added two event brands — Corrugated and Textile — to its 2026 Barcelona program.Roland DGA spotlighted the TrueVIS XG-640 at SEMA,
leaning into wrap productivity and output quality.
📰 Top 5 Headlines This Week
Epson ships the 64″ SureColor S7170 solvent — speed and value in one box
Summary:
Epson confirmed the SureColor S7170 is now available via Authorized Professional Imaging Resellers. The 64″ solvent platform pairs a latest-gen printhead for faster throughput with the brand’s known color and accuracy pedigree.
Key takeaways:
Availability matters — shops can actually order and receive units now.
Target work: wraps, signage, and durable outdoor graphics where solvent still wins.
Positioning: a “value” tier with performance uplift versus prior generation.
Why it matters:
Solvent didn’t go quietly. If your mix includes wraps and exterior signage, this is a fresh contender that can lift speed without jumping price classes. Evaluate real-world ICCs, ink consumption, and service coverage before swapping platforms.
Antalis acquires Texo Trade Services — a strategic grab in printable textiles & transfers
Summary:
Antalis announced the acquisition of Dutch-based TTS, a specialist in printable textiles and transfer media, strengthening its European leadership in visual communication.
Key takeaways:
Consolidation = broader portfolio and pan-EU logistics under one umbrella.
Categories: printable textiles, dye-sub/transfer media see tighter integration.
Near-term effects: potential lead-time improvements; watch pricing and SKU rationalization.
Why it matters:
For LFP and soft-signage shops, supply stability beats specs. This deal could smooth availability across Europe and simplify vendor lists — but watch for line-item changes post-integration.
HYBRID Software launches Helix OEM — embedding ‘brains’ inside print systems
Summary:
HYBRID Software introduced Helix, a dedicated OEM software business aimed at the embedded intelligence driving industrial and packaging print systems.
Key takeaways:
Focus shift: deeper OEM/embedded stack (RIP/DFE/workflow).
Industrial intent: targets high-duty systems where uptime and automation rule.
Ecosystem signal: software differentiation is now a primary battleground.
Why it matters:
For integrators and advanced LFP shops, smarter software often unlocks more capacity than a new carriage. Expect tighter press-to-workflow integration and faster job onboarding in next-gen devices with Helix baked in.
FESPA adds ‘Corrugated’ and ‘Textile’ brand events to 2026 Barcelona
Summary:
FESPA will debut Corrugated and Textile alongside FESPA Global Print Expo 2026 (19–22 May, Barcelona), expanding dedicated floorspace and communities.
Key takeaways:
Packaging/display focus grows: corrugated POS/POP meets LFP tech.
Textile gets its own spotlight: from soft signage to apparel workflows.
2026 planning: a denser “one-week” itinerary for vendors and buyers.
Why it matters:
Travel budgets are finite. If you sell into POS displays, corrugated packaging, or fabric graphics, Barcelona 2026 becomes a higher-ROI stop — more verticals, one trip.
Roland DGA’s TrueVIS XG-640 drew wraps attention at SEMA 2025
Summary:
At SEMA 2025, Roland DGA spotlighted the TrueVIS XG-640 and co-sponsored the WrapsLIVE competition, emphasizing productivity and color fidelity in vehicle-graphics workflows.
Key takeaways:
Market target: automotive restyling pros and wrap shops.
Throughput + color: pitch centered on speed with TrueVIS output fidelity.
Sales cue: live competitions remain powerful lead drivers.
Why it matters:
If wraps are margin-rich for your shop, benchmark XG-640 run modes against your current platform using identical films and profiles — not show-floor samples.
🎯 Strategic Takeaway
Software + Supply Chain > Specs on Paper.
A shippable solvent workhorse is welcome, but the bigger arc is smarter embedded software and tighter material pipelines. Plan 2026 travel around Barcelona’s expanded FESPA, and run your own controlled tests before platform changes — real jobs, your profiles, your installers.
❌ This Week’s Noise
Event teasers without substance. Attractive invites (e.g., “new era in interior design”) are fine, but until specs, pricing, or ship dates land, they’re calendar notes — not strategy.
📅 What’s Coming Up
🗓 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
🗓 FESPA Global Print Expo 2026 + Corrugated/Textile — 19–22 May 2026, Barcelona — expect packaging/display and textile-focused launches and partnerships.
🔗FESPA Global Print Expo 2026
🧠 Smarter Every Week
Wallcovering installs: Log temperature, humidity, and primer type for every sample wall. It’s the cheapest insurance against callbacks when you scale from sample to 100 m² — a lesson reinforced by Drytac’s Paper Fleece Air show installation.
Thanks for tuning into this week’s Wide Format Brief!
Remember to stay connected for more industry news and insights to keep your business at the forefront of the printing world.
Until next time — keep printing!