Salus Report Shows Health of Repro, AEC Industry

January 8, 2026

3:47 PM

FellowNeko

Reprographics industry veteran Joel Salus has long maintained data about the health of the industry. He sent us a multi-page report on New Year’s Day packed with interesting information. (If you’d like to download his report, click here to log into the IRgA Member Center; the report is the top item in the "Reports and Recorded Webinars" tab on the left.)

Here are some highlights:

1) He asked ChatGPT whether reprographics is in decline, and got this reply: “Traditional blueprint printing is in decline, but the reprographics industry itself is evolving—not disappearing.” This was followed by an insightful, AI-generated analysis.

2) A $50 million construction project generates between $150,000 and $500,000 in reprographics work. Joel arrived at this number by combining some Census Bureau data about construction costs and ChatGPT’s estimate of the percentage of a construction project’s cost devoted to reprographics (though in his opinion, ChatGPT overestimates the percentage).

3) The average monthly AIA Architectural Billings Index for 2025 was 45.64, its lowest average since 2009 (with the exception of COVID year 2020).

4) Construction spending dropped 1.8 percent in the first 8 months of 2025 compared to that period in 2024.

This is just a sample of the info in his report. If you’d like to download his report, click here to log into the IRgA Member Center; the report is the top item in the "Reports and Recorded Webinars" tab on the left.

Comments (4)

Comment Feed

Not sound logic

"A $50 million construction project generates between $150,000 and $500,000 in reprographics work" "(though in his opinion, ChatGPT overestimates the percentage)"......Yeah, overestimated by $100,000+?....This statement is the whole basis for the article's argument as to why the reprographics industry is evolving but not disappearing, and it is entirely false. Seems like a stretch to convince your members that the reprographics industry is not in decline. Why would I sign up to read the whole article if I don't feel like I'm getting honest guidance?

Cameron 31 days ago

The story beyond the headlines

Hey Cameron, I get where you are coming from at first glance of the headline, but as you read into the story and data, you will see those numbers represent larger size projects. There is a detailed breakdown and some incredible stats to back much of this up and yes, I think we all know AI is still in development with a lot of work to do, but it's improving RAPIDLY! There is also an important footnote, the impact of those potential repro revenue numbers are based on a shops control over the architect, engineer, GC, subs and owner on a project. Logic would show then that the more intertwined you can be, the more you could get on a given project. I hope someday soon we can encourage you to become a member. This group is an amazing resource in a change industry!

Tom Taubenheim, A/E Graphics 31 days ago

"another story" behind the headlines

Hi Cameron, just a few followup comments about what you said....(1) The statement that ChatGPT that "a $50 mil construction project generates between $150k and $500k in reprographics work" is a statement that I did NOT agree with. Frankly, that statement "sounded like" something I wrote in the prospectus we issued when I took my reprographics company public....in 1985. Back then, that percentage range was somewhat accurate. (Must consider what Tom T very accurately said in his remarks; meaning that if one did ALL of the repro work for the entire project for the entire team, that percentage range was pretty much spot on. (Years ago.) My understanding of ChatGPT is that its base of knowledge is built on what it learns from what people have written and write. (In other words, it does not come up with stuff on its own.) Perhaps ChatGPT's statement (about the range) was based on what I wrote 40 years ago? LOL. (2) Anyone who has been involved in involved in "plan and spec" printing for real estate development and renovation projects for decades KNOWS that the costs for printing, as a percentage of total construction cost spend, has declined, declined, declined for years and years and years. It IS the trend and that change is not going to reverse itself. (3) What's not in decline at least not yet, is large-format color printing services. (There wlll come a time when that declines as well.) The point I want to make is that if you are in the repro biz and have been relying on plan and spec printing for most of your revenues, do you best to change that situation. I do acquisition work in the reprographics industry, and, based on the numbers I see (across the country), repro companies who are still relying on plan and spec printing for a very large portion of their revenues......are in decline. To the opposite, repro companies who've moved forcefully into large and grand format color services are doing okay (and some are doing much, much better than just okay.) (4) Years ago, and this was especially the case before the Great Recession, the AIA ABI Index readings USED TO be a fairly accurate "predictor" of whether plan and spec printing would be growing or would be declining over the following 6 to 12 months. That is not the case today, although, for those repro firms who still do generate MOST of their revenue from plan and spec printing the ABI Index readings are still "somewhat"" of a predictor. (When those readings are red, that has NEVER been good for the repro industry.)

joel salus 31 days ago

What percentage do you see, Cameron?

Hi Cameron - I'm the managing director of IRgA, and the one who wrote the summary of Joel's report, including the comment about the percentage. Clearly the percentage ChatGPT suggested is no longer accurate, and it seems like it would be useful to have an accurate number. Do you have any feel for that figure based on your own company's experience?

Ed Avis 31 days ago