The PRINTING United Expo Playbook for Promo Decorators
Editor’s Note: This article was written for Promo Impressions. For more content on the promotional products industry and decoration, be sure to subscribe to the biweekly newsletter at PromoImpressions.com.
This week, the printing industry comes together for three days packed with the latest technology, education, and solutions for putting ink on “stuff.” PRINTING United Expo is the largest printing trade show in the Western Hemisphere, featuring over one million sq. ft. of exhibit space and 820-plus exhibitors.
Dave Leskusky, president of PRINTING United Alliance, emphasizes the event's importance for promotional products decorators, suppliers, and distributors, highlighting its extensive range of technologies for everything from apparel to hard goods.
“It’s the only show where a promo supplier can find every printing and every decorating technology all under one roof," he says. “And the coolest thing is, it doesn't really matter what they sell. It could be drinkware, apparel, or writing instruments, badges, lanyards, stickers, tech products, soft signage — we have exhibitors that can help them decorate more efficiently, more sustainably, and with greater automation, all in one place.”
Technologies to Explore
Promotional products decoration technologies you won't want to miss include embroidery, laser engraving and cutting, UV-LED printing technology (flatbed or direct-to-object (DTO)), dye-sublimation, direct-to-garment (DTG), heat transfer, including direct-to-film (DTF), screen printing, wide-format roll-to-roll, and more.
Here’s a quick look at exhibitors across key technology categories:
Embroidery
ColDesi • Hirsch Solutions Inc. • Melco International • Ricoma • Stitch It International • ZSK Machines
Laser Engraving and Cutting
AutoTran • Epilog Laser • EuroLaser • Kern Laser Systems • SEI Laser by Matik • Trotec Laser
UV-LED Printing (Flatbed and DTO)
Agfa • AutoTran • Axiom America / Arcus Printers • Canon • ColDesi • Direct Color Systems • Durst • EFI • Fluid Color • FUJIFILM • HP • Inkcups • Innovative Digital Systems • IT Supplies • Koenig & Bauer • LogoJET • Mimaki • Mutoh America • Roland DGA • StratoJet • SwissQPrint • Xante • Vanguard Digital Printing Systems
Dye-Sublimation
Axiom America / Arcus Printers • ColDesi • Durst • EFI • IT Supplies • Ink Jetters • Mimaki • Mutoh • Roland DGA
Direct-to-Garment
American Print and Supply • ColDesi • Brother International • Epson • Hirsch Solutions Inc. • Kornit Digital • M&R • Ricoh DTG • Roland DGA
Screen Printing
Anatol Equipment • Brown Mfg • Lawson Screen & Digital Products • M&R Printing Equipment • ROQ US • Vastex International
Heat Transfer
American Print and Supply • Axiom America / Arcus Printers • Brother International • ColDesi • DTF Station • GlobalDTF.com • HIX Corporation • Imaging Supplies Warehouse • Mimaki • M&R • Roland DGA • Sawgrass Technologies • SISER North America • STAHLS’
Wide-Format (Roll-to-Roll)
Agfa • Axiom America • ColDesi • Durst • EFI • Epson • Canon • HP • Mimaki • Mutoh • Roland • Vanguard Digital Printing Systems
🆕 Check out the 2025 New Product Guide to see what’s new in printing equipment for promotional products applications.
Pro Tip: These aren’t exhaustive lists. Use My Show Planner to identify relevant exhibitors, technologies, and sessions tailored to your needs.
Education Sessions to Check Out
Wednesday, Oct. 22
- 12 PM: Packaging Trend Watch 2026
Thursday, Oct. 23
- 4 PM: ASI Happy Hour
Friday, Oct. 24
Diving into AI
New this year is the PRINTING AI Pavilion (Booth 4255) — the central hub where attendees can explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the printing industry. Attendees can sit in on expert talks, see real-world AI applications, and discover solutions from exhibitors.
Take advantage of the PRINTING AI Tours and visit a lineup of exhibitors transforming workflows, automation, data insights, and business management with AI. Stops include Ad Legends, Koenig & Bauer, DirectMail2.0, Significans Automation, GoMake, Profectus, Gelato Connect, SpencerMetrics, and Clients First Print Solutions. Tours begin at 3 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday and 1 p.m. on Friday.
And even before your feet hit the floor, Leskusky suggests using a generative AI tool like ChatGPT to plan your strategy.
“I just did some quick searches and prompts this morning around different technologies, asking, ‘Hey, if I wanted to print a lanyard, or if I wanted to print a sticker, what technologies could I utilize to print those?’ and then basically ask it to look at printingunited.com and find out what exhibitors are there,” he explains, “So I think doing a little homework obviously helps. And then we have a ton of different pavilions that are there too to help on the education side of things.”
Action in the Apparel Zone
Head to the Apparel Zone for hands-on training, live demos, and sessions in the Apparelist Live Theater — a space built for decorators, printers, and suppliers to learn, network, and have some fun.
Apparel Zone Happy Hour: Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 4-5 p.m. Find the full Zone schedule here.
Pro Tip: Download the PRINTING United Expo 2025 mobile app to make the most of your time. Under the Planner tab, you can search for exhibitors, take notes, add photos, and navigate the show floor. After the show, export your notes to streamline follow-ups. The app also features schedules, demo info, and real-time push notifications.
“I think it's a, it's a can't-miss event," Leskusky adds. "Bring samples of what you're looking to print and walk into an exhibitor and ask them how they would decorate it.”
Want to attend? It’s not too late — register here.
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