(Luton, UK) May 26, 2005…According to InfoTrends/CAP Ventures, the total Western European supplies market, including marking materials and media, is expected to increase from €32.5 billion in 2003 to almost €36.2 billion in 2008. Growth will be found in the home with inkjet technology, in the office with toner-based technology, and in professional print environments with light production monochrome devices and lower-cost colour solutions.

Marking materials will be the key driver for supplies growth, increasing from €17.6 billion in 2004 to €19.8 billion by 2008. Media will remain relatively flat, growing from €14.1 billion in 2004 to €14.2 billion in 2008.

Western European Media vs. Marking Supplies – 2003-2008 (€Millions)

InfoTrends/CAP Ventures’ new forecast entitled Western European Supplies Summary Forecast Market Report: 2003-2008 provides a summary view of its forecasts for media (paper and film), marking materials (toners, inks, and ribbons), as well as the hardware installed base within the computer peripherals markets across Western Europe. This document is designed to create an overall picture of the supplies market in terms of products and technologies. The data provided in the forecast covers 2002 through 2008, with 2002 and 2003 data being actual numbers and 2004 through 2008 being forecasted data.

Highlights from the forecast include:

• Inkjet technology will continue to increase its share of total supplies revenue at the expense of impact printing and fax technologies.
• Uncoated cut-sheet paper will remain the dominant media, while specialty media for colour laser and colour inkjet applications is also expected to show promising growth.
• Lower-end colour page printing will dominate the supplies opportunity in the office environment in the coming years, but the Universal Copier/Printers are expected to win out in the longer term.

“The next few years will likely bring a number of challenges to the supplies markets as vendors face a weakened dollar and increasing pricing pressures,” commented Catherine Cresswell, Associate Director at InfoTrends/CAP Ventures. “The real challenge, however, is to continue to facilitate and encourage the output of paper-based documents by selling the value of shorter runs, personalisation, and colour. Users themselves must be re-trained to see hard copy output as something that adds real value at a personal and commercial level in that they can make businesses more effective.” 

The forecast is available immediately to clients of InfoTrends/CAP Ventures’ Communication Supplies Consulting Service Europe. For more information about the report or to make a purchase, click here to visit our online store or contact Jason Russell at +44 1582 400120 or via e-mail at jason_russell@infotrends.com.

InfoTrends/CAP Ventures is the leading worldwide market research and strategic consulting firm for the digital imaging and document solutions industry. We provide research, analysis, forecasts, and advice to help clients understand market trends, identify opportunities, and develop strategies to grow their businesses. Additional information about InfoTrends/CAP Ventures is available on the Web at www.infotrendsresearch.com.

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