International Reprographics Zoom Meeting, September 16, 2025
By Ed Avis
Reprographics companies in Europe face many of the same challenges we face in the United States – declining print volumes, higher costs, and few options when an owner nears retirement. But also some of the same opportunities, such a growing scanning business and good revenue from color graphics. These similarities became evident during a Zoom meeting of reprographics representatives from Germany, Spain, Austria, Switzerland and the United States on September 16.
The Zoom, which will hopefully be the first of many such meetings, began with brief introductions of all the attendees:
Austria
Andreas Haltmeyer, Haltmeyer GmbH
Germany
Achim Carius, go4copy
Nicola Scharlau, Scharlau GmbH
Raoul Zardeninks, motio
Spain
Albert Bramona, Bramona Impressió Digital
Sergi Deltor, EGM Group
Juan Carlos Escudero, Asociación Española Reprografía
Enric Galve, EGM Group
Álvaro Prieto, Grupo Goya
Javier Artigas, Aragonesa Reproducciones Gráficas
Switzerland
Mario Delvecchio, COPYPRINTSUISSE
United States
Ed Avis, IRgA
Carter Crisp, Crisp Imaging
Cheryl Frizzell, Key Blue Prints, Inc.
Mike Hobgood, RMX Network
Kevin Howes
Hiram Russell (IRgA President), Blue Boy Imaging
Stephanie Shark, Reprographic Services Association
Tom Taubenheim, A/E Graphics
Clint Tornow, BPI Color
After the introductions, one or two speakers from each country discussed the current and potential future situtation for reprographics in their country. There was a lot of conversation about digitalization, color graphics, and other fields that are growing and/or affecting reprographics. Here are a few additional interesting points the speakers made:
- The meaning and the use of the word “reprographics” came up several times. “Other industries call themselves specific things – baker, hotel, restaurant – that every child knows. But ‘reprography’ is not like that,” noted Achim Carius from Germany. He said the result is that many companies in the field call themselves different things – printer, digital printer, blueprinter, etc. – which affects the unity of the field. Mario Delvecchio from Switzerland added that the association he represents dropped the word “reprographics” and now uses “print media technology.”
- Delvecchio also explained that in Switzerland, there are two four-year training programs for print technology, and combined they graduate about 40 people per year.
- In Europe, copyright laws are a major challenge, because they require payments that the printers can’t afford. Juan Carlos Escudero from Spain noted that printing materials for universities is a good business, but the copyright issue has seriously affected that.
- Several speakers noted that scanning is doing well, both large and small format. “In many cases our association members are scanning in drawings that were originally printed by the company founder,” noted Raoul Zardeninks from Germany.
- Andreas Haltmeyer from Austria said a concern he has is HP’s impending end of service for older PageWides, which is what his firm uses.
This article just skims the surface of the conversations that occurred. Overall, the meeting was a successful introduction to the idea that reprographics professionals around the world can benefit from sharing ideas and concerns.
A survey of attendees after the meeting revealed that they would like to meet regularly, and in future meetings speak specifically and more in-depth about technologies and markets that are succeeding.