The business climate index for the German printing and media industry improved significantly in August 2026. The seasonally adjusted business climate index compiled by the BVDM showed an increase of 9.8 per cent compared with the previous month. The business situation remained unchanged, whilst expectations for the coming six months improved.
No agreement has yet been reached in the collective bargaining negotiations for the approximately 95,000 employees in the German printing industry. The trade union ver.di has rejected a settlement proposal put forward by the Federal Association of Printing and Media. Talks will resume on 7 September 2026 in Hamburg.
Mark Andy, a leading global provider of printing and labelling solutions, has entered into an agreement with Sun Chemical under which Mark Andy will act as Sun Chemical’s North American distribution partner for printing inks, varnishes, adhesives and colour management solutions.
Investment activity in the printing industry is high. This is shown by a survey of companies on the financing climate, which the Federal Association of Printing and Media (BVDM) conducted from March to April 2026 in collaboration with the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) and 19 other industry and business associations. The financing climate has remained relatively stable since the last survey in 2024, though investment activity is focused on replacement investments and cost reductions.
In Dr. Agnes Knorr, Fogra gains a technically skilled executive who brings extensive research experience to the Security Applications and Print Finishing department. A key focus of her work will be the further development of new testing procedures.
Post print processing has evolved far beyond being the final stage of production. It has become a decisive factor in product quality, operational efficiency and reliable delivery, making it an increasingly important competitive advantage for companies in the print and advertising industry. Large format cutting, in particular, has a significant influence on the overall production workflow. Precision, material versatility and a high degree of automation are now essential for processing a wide variety of jobs efficiently while maintaining consistently high quality.
Movement brings people together—whether on the playing field, during a corporate run, or in the daily work routine. Just in time for the “sports summer” of 2026, Gustav Daiber GmbH presents its new Sports & Activities catalog. Across 103 pages, the corporate fashion manufacturer showcases 99 functional sports and activewear products, offering inspiration for teams, companies, and active brands.
The business climate index for the German printing and media industry has deteriorated slightly. The seasonally adjusted business climate index, calculated by the BVDM, showed a 1.5 percent decline compared to the previous month. The current business situation remained unchanged, while expectations for the coming six months worsened.
A print shop’s next customer might no longer be a human, but rather an AI agent that researches, compares, and places orders. zipcon consulting describes the implications of this shift for (online) print shops in its whitepaper, “Agentic Print – Print Becomes Infrastructure.”
