New IPI Research Highlights In-plant Expansion
In-plants have moved well beyond their traditional role as in-house copy centers. A new In-plant Impressions research report titled “In-plant Capabilities, Performance, and Expansion (2026)” details how today’s in-plants are broadening their value through wide-format printing and other higher-value applications that better reflect the needs of their parent organizations. (Download this report for free here.)
IPI research shows that wide-format sign and display graphics now account for 20% of in-plant revenue, up from 15% two years ago, while value-added services have grown to 5% of revenue, up from just 1% in 2020.
That evolution is translating into stronger business performance. More than half of in-plants reported revenue growth in 2025, and many are strengthening their operations by insourcing work, upgrading equipment, adding services, and managing themselves with greater business discipline. The study shows that successful in-plants are staying close to internal customers, documenting their value, and investing in capabilities that support both their own growth and the broader goals of the organizations they serve.
Some key takeaways from in the report:
- 68% of in-plants now insource work from outside their organizations, contributing an average of 13% of revenue.
- 77% upgraded equipment in the past two years to better meet customer expectations.
- The print applications with the highest growth rates include rigid signage, ADA-compliant signage, transactional printing, and greeting cards.
Our survey was taken by 109 in-plant managers. Their insights provide the basis for this new research report. Download it for free here.
- Categories:
- Business Management – Market Research
Bob has served as editor of In-plant Impressions since October of 1994. Prior to that he served for three years as managing editor of Printing Impressions, a commercial printing publication. Mr. Neubauer is very active in the U.S. in-plant industry. He attends all the major in-plant conferences and has visited 200 in-plant operations around the world. He has given presentations to numerous in-plant groups in the U.S., Canada and Australia, including the Association of College and University Printers and the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association. He also coordinates the annual In-Print contest, co-sponsored by IPMA and In-plant Impressions.
