Printing is a massive industry. Companies who provide this service must ensure that they maintain their equipment to supply to the demand. They must also ensure that they always have the best in the market to compete with rivals. Manufacturers of printing equipment and supplies therefore must stay on top of the market too, to be certain that they are providing the printing industry with the best equipment available. Printing companies need to invest in a whole array of supplies to carry on their business on a daily basis. This involves printer cartridges, ink for refillable cartridges, paper, photograph paper, labels, adhesives and finishing products are to name but a few.

Aside from the supplies listed above, and the products relating to them, printing equipment is also very important. Equipment may include printers, desktop printers or industrial printers, printers for labels or barcodes and even photographs, scanners, CAD/CAM technology, state of the art digital printing equipment, and the list goes on.

Supplies may also include promotional and advertising gifts that companies may order to be personalised. This includes an extremely diverse range of products, and so it is important that they are of satisfactory quality that will help to create a positive image of the company.

Eco awareness and environmental campaigns have also meant that printing companies and suppliers have been able to branch out into the eco friendly sector of goods, such as recycled paper and recycled ink cartridges, to offer to their clients.

Like anything in the printing industry, supplies and equipment are cheaper when bought in bulk. It is important for printing companies and suppliers to ensure they rival competitors in the market on price.