Printing Industries of America

What Printing Industries of America does

Printing Industries of America, operating under the trade name PRINTING United Alliance, is a non-profit trade association serving the printing and graphic arts industry. Founded in 1887 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the organization was formed in its current shape through the 2019 merger of Printing Industries of America and SGIA (Specialty Graphic Imaging Association). It unites over 20,000 printing professionals across nine member segments including printers, suppliers, distributors, agencies, educational institutions, brands, consultancies, media publications, and students, claiming the title of North America's largest member-based printing and graphic arts association. The Alliance operates across North America with international reach into Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa through reciprocal association partnerships.

The core product portfolio combines education, certification, research, events, and networking services delivered through digital and physical channels. Key platforms include the iLEARNING+ e-learning system (offering certifications such as G7+ Expert for color accuracy), the PRINTING United Journal quarterly publication, the Alliance Insights research service led by Chief Economist Andy Paparozzi, and the annual PRINTING United Expo in Las Vegas — a 1M+ square foot trade show billed as North America's largest in the industry. Underlying technology includes the printing.org website, the my.printing.org member portal, and the searchable PRINTING United Alliance Directory. Distribution is augmented by affinity partner programs (equipment, insurance, supplies) and reciprocal international association agreements.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix: annual membership dues (tiered from free student to $495 corporate Print & Promo Distributor), event registration and exhibitor fees for the Expo, paid certification and iLEARNING+ course access, paid research reports ($399 full reports), subscription publications ($59/year non-member Journal), and referral fees from affinity partner contracts (covering approximately 23% non-deductible lobbying activities in dues). The Alliance is governed by a Board of Directors and is funded entirely through member-related revenue streams rather than external investment, with NAPCO Media LLC providing publishing and digital infrastructure services under a vendor relationship.

Name

Printing Industries of America

Legal name

PRINTING United Alliance

Website

https://printing.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

PRINTING United Alliance (Printing Industries of America) is a non-profit trade association serving 20,000+ printing and graphic arts professionals across North America and select international markets, offering education, certification (G7+), research, events, and networking through membership dues, the PRINTING United Expo, and iLEARNING+.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Support Activities for Printing (32312), Printing and Related Support Activities (323)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Service Industries For The Printing Trade (2790)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Print Quality Assurance & Compliance Services (Press Checks, ISO/G7, Accessibility/Standards) (MPAJALAJ)

Keywords

• Printing trade association
• Industry certification programs
• Professional training services
• Trade show events
• Industry research publications

Headquarters

HQ city

Sewickley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues collected from organizations and individuals in the printing industry. Dues are scheduled on an anniversary basis and are non-refundable and non-transferable. Multi-year memberships available at discounted rates.
2. Event Registration Fees: Revenue from PRINTING United Expo registration including Exhibit Halls access, show floor education, hands-on demos, Keynote sessions, and paid education sessions. Also includes virtual events and conference registrations.
3. Education and Certification: Revenue from iLEARNING+ course access, certifications, and professional development programs. Students receive free access while non-student members and non-members pay for various certifications and courses.
4. Publications: PRINTING United Journal print and digital editions, with print edition at $59 annually for non-members and digital access for members.
5. Affinity Partner Programs: The Alliance receives referral fees in connection with most affinity partner contracts, enabling discounted and customized products and services for members while providing additional income stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

PRINTING United Alliance is a non-profit member-based trade association that serves printing and graphic arts businesses through paid membership tiers, industry certifications (G7+ Expert Certification), e-learning (iLEARNING+), an annual trade show (PRINTING United Expo), quarterly publications and research reports, advocacy on legislative/OSHA/EHS matters, and affinity partner discount programs. Founded in 1948 and re-formed through the 2019 SGIA merger, it unites over 20,000 printing professionals across printers, suppliers, agencies, brands, distributors, and educators under a unified industry platform.

Product overview

PRINTING United Alliance is a member-based printing and graphic arts association offering a unified platform combining education, research, certification, events, and networking services. The core offerings include iLEARNING+ (e-learning platform), PRINTING United Journal (quarterly publication), PRINTING United Expo (annual trade show), G7+ Expert Certification (color management certification), and Alliance Insights Research. Members also have access to the Membership Directory, industry-specific communities, and research publications like the State of the Industry Report and Print Buyer Report.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• iLearning+: Comprehensive e-learning platform offering courses and certifications for the printing industry
• PRINTING United Journal
• PRINTING United Expo
• G7+ Expert Certification
• PDAA
• Women in Print

Products and services

• iLEARNING+ Comprehensive e-learning platform offering courses and certifications designed to advance careers in the printing industry, including Color Management Professional: Fundamentals Certification, Print Planning and Estimating Certifications, and G7+ Expert Certification. Students at Educational Institution Membership Schools receive free access; members receive 20% off other certifications.
• PRINTING United Journal Quarterly leading technical journal covering all segments of the printing industry with technical and business-oriented articles written by industry experts. Print edition $59 annually for non-members; digital access included with membership.
• PRINTING United Expo North America's largest printing trade show featuring over a million square feet of equipment, solutions, and emerging technologies. Held annually in Las Vegas drawing global attendees and exhibitors for learning, networking, and industry discovery. Members pay $50 (Exhibit Halls) or $150 (with paid education sessions); non-members pay the same for Exhibit Halls.
• G7+ Expert Certification Industry-leading color accuracy and consistency certification program that sets the standard for print quality, helping companies reduce waste, save time, and deliver unmatched print quality. Recognized expert-level certification delivered through iLEARNING+ and PRINTING United Alliance training.
• State of the Industry Report Annual benchmarking report providing printing professionals with data and perspective on sales, profitability, pricing, and AI strategies in the printing industry. The State of the Industry Report 2026 is available exclusively to PRINTING United Alliance members.
• Print Buyer Report Quarterly research report providing insights into print buyer behavior and trends to help printing professionals understand their customers.
• Membership Directory Searchable PRINTING United Alliance Directory allowing users to find and connect with industry suppliers, print service providers, installers, distributors, and creative service agencies by organization type (Print and Promo Distributor, Printer/Installer, Supplier, Creative Service/Agency), keyword, and location with advanced specialty filters.
• Alliance Insights Research Industry-leading quarterly research led by Chief Economist Andy Paparozzi, providing in-depth insight into industry market trends including equipment use, purchases, market areas, financial performance, and competitive strategies.
• Industry Communities Specialized content and resources platforms for specific printing industry market segments including Apparel Decoration, Commercial Printing, Digital Packaging, Digital Textile, Educators & Students, Graphics Production, Industrial Applications & Printed Electronics, Installation PDAA, and Women in Print.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free membership and education access for students plus two years complimentary individual membership post-graduation
• +2 more outcomes

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NAPCO Media LLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationNAPCO Media LLC operates printing.org and related web properties for PRINTING United Alliance. NAPCO provides web hosting, content management, and digital publishing services including managing the CCPA compliance page and overall website infrastructure.
• ASI (ASI - Advertising Specialty Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPRINTING United Alliance partnered with ASI for promotional products to help members navigate the promo space. The partnership capitalizes on the convergence between print and promotional products industries.
• USI (Underwriting Services Inc.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPRINTING United Alliance partnered with USI to create a new insurance program specifically designed for PRINTING United Alliance members, offering specialized coverage options.
• Australian Printing Industry AssociationsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational membership partnership allowing members in Australia to benefit from not only a strong national organization but also enjoy the benefits of PRINTING United Alliance.
• New Zealand Printing Industry AssociationsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational membership partnership allowing members in New Zealand to benefit from both a strong national organization and PRINTING United Alliance resources.
• South African Printing Industry AssociationsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational membership partnership allowing members in South Africa to benefit from both national organization strength and PRINTING United Alliance offerings.
• Affinity Partners (Various)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Alliance has numerous affinity partners under contract that offer discounted and customized products and services to Alliance members. The Alliance receives referral fees in connection with most affinity partner contracts.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• FESPA: International federation of national printing and graphic arts associations. Closest functional peer — also a membership-based trade association serving printers, with its own pan-European trade shows (FESPA Global Print Expo) and training/credentials, directly overlapping PRINTING United Alliance's remit outside North America.
• NPES (Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies): U.S. trade association for printing equipment and supplier companies, with overlapping membership and standards-development activity. Represents a substantial share of the same supplier member base that PRINTING United Alliance targets.
• Idealliance: Non-profit membership organization focused on standards, certification, and best practices in graphic communications. Directly comparable in mission (color management, workflow standards) and competes for the same technical and standards-development mindshare.

Regional players

• Two Sides North America: Non-profit initiative promoting the sustainability of print and paper, with overlap in member advocacy and educational content for the printing industry. Comparable in mission and audience but narrower in scope.
• BIC (Book Industry Communication): U.K.-based non-profit supporting the book and print supply chain with standards and advocacy. Smaller in scale, but structurally analogous as a regional trade association for print-adjacent industries.

Broad incumbents

• drupa (Messe Düsseldorf): Quadrennial mega-trade show in Düsseldorf that is the largest global printing exhibition. Competes for international exhibitor and attendee dollars against PRINTING United Expo, but at a different cadence and geography.
• Informa Markets: Global trade show and media operator that runs dozens of vertical events including ones in adjacent industries. Represents the type of large incumbent that could acquire or compete against PRINTING United Expo at scale.
• CompTIA: Large non-profit trade association for the IT industry with a comparable member-magazine, certification, training, and event model. Useful as a benchmark for how a mature, multi-product association can monetize a fragmented professional audience.

Emerging players

• ASI (Advertising Specialty Institute): Affinity partner to PRINTING United Alliance for the promo products convergence. Operates a similar distributor-membership and event model (ASI Show) in the adjacent promotional products space.

Others

• NAPCO Media LLC: Operates printing.org and related web properties for the Alliance. Functions as a publishing and digital infrastructure partner — and per the data, is listed as the parent entity, making it both a vendor and a controlling-adjacent party.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PrintInd
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCQ6PZ1B5Z2Q4Q1B2C3D4E5F
• Facebookfacebook.com/printingindustries
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/printing-united-alliance
• Instagraminstagram.com/printingunited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Printing Industries of America