In this new episode of Commit to Print, Graphco President Chris Manley shares a clear and practical look at how convergence is reshaping the printing industry. As shops continue searching for new revenue streams and stronger margins, convergence has become a central theme at events like PRINTING United and Chris breaks down what it really means for today’s print providers.

Where Convergence Is Creating New Opportunity

Chris sees more commercial printers stepping into packaging, especially with compact folding and gluing solutions that make straight-line boxes, pop-ups, and specialty formats far easier to produce. This shift is one reason Graphco began importing the SD-Italy Augusta F150R Pro, a versatile CNC routing and fabrication system designed to help commercial shops expand beyond traditional print.

But the biggest surge of interest is happening in wide format and dimensional signage. With equipment that automates tasks like routing, cutting, and even stud welding, printers can now create complex, three-part signs and fabricated structures with impressive consistency and speed. For shops already serving these customers, these high-value applications offer margins far stronger than what most see in traditional offset.

Why Convergence Matters

By leveraging existing relationships and built-in customer demand, printers can add profitable new applications without dramatically increasing labor or overhead. It’s a practical, sustainable way to expand capabilities — and Chris explains how shops of all sizes can take advantage of it.