Printing machinery is a collective term encompassing equipment such as printing presses, plate-mounting machines, and binding machines. Its primary function is to transfer ink from a printing plate onto a substrate, such as paper. The core mechanisms include paper feeding, inking, printing, and paper delivery units. Based on the form of the printing plate, printing machinery is categorized into four types: letterpress, lithography, gravure, and screen printing; based on the impression structure, it is classified into platen-to-platen, cylinder-to-platen, and cylinder-to-cylinder configurations. The technology originated in China, with Germany subsequently refining the wooden letterpress machine in the 15th century; by the 20th century, lithographic offset printing had gradually supplanted traditional letterpress techniques.
Modern printing machinery integrates automation technologies-such as PLCs and servo systems-with digital workflows, evolving toward high-speed operation and intelligent automation while placing a strong emphasis on the application of eco-friendly technologies. China's printing machinery manufacturing industry emerged during the early stages of the Reform and Opening-up era; in 2023, the sector's sales revenue reached 56.42 billion RMB. While domestically produced equipment now adequately meets mid-range market demands, the high-end market remains dependent on imports. The industry value chain encompasses upstream raw materials-such as steel and electric motors-and serves downstream sectors including publishing and packaging. Driven by the growth of e-commerce and environmental protection policies, market demand continues to expand, with the total market size projected to exceed 225.6 billion RMB by 2025.
