Solopress launches new Forge trade print platform

UK-based online commercial printer, Solopress, has launched Forge, a new trade print platform for verified printers, resellers, brokers, and print managers.

First unveiled at The Print Show 2026, Forge has been developed to address challenges in trade print including how to quote more work, protect margins, and access supplier capacity without relying on public ecommerce product pages or exposing trade pricing.

Available only to approved trade customers, Forge gives members access to exclusive pricing that is not visible publicly. Users can apply their own margin, generate branded quotations, and order through Solopress production, using the company’s scale and capacity as an extension of their own business.

Solopress has reported a strong response from trade customers at The Print Show, especially those interested in faster quoting, exclusive trade pricing, and a more direct route into Solopress production.

Simon Cooper, chief executive officer at Solopress, says: “Online print has been shaped for more than a quarter of a century by product pages, search engines, and ecommerce journeys built for general buyers. That model has worked very well, but it does not always reflect the way many professional print buyers need to source, quote, and order work.

“Forge gives verified trade customers a different route. They can start with the spec or the artwork, access exclusive trade pricing, build quotes quickly, and order through Solopress production while keeping control of their customer relationship. The response at The Print Show confirmed how strongly that need is felt across the trade.”

Forge hosts a range of customisable promotional products beyond those offered publicly on the Solopress website, as well as offering built-in artwork tools that can help users identify potential file issues before ordering.

The platform can support both spec-first and artwork-first ordering, with trade customers able to build jobs from practical print requirements such as size, stock, finish, and quantity. Forge can also automatically identify the product and specification from the artwork file.

Orders placed through Forge are produced by Solopress, with white label fulfilment available so that trade customers can supply their clients without Solopress branding appearing in the delivery.

Graham Hunstone, head of partnerships at Solopress, adds: “One of the most powerful things about Forge is that it lets printers and resellers keep their customer, keep their brand, and decide their own selling price and margin, while having Solopress production behind them.

“For approved trade customers, there is no licence fee, no monthly subscription, and no setup charge. Forge gives them a way to use our production capability almost like their own production hub, whether they need to quote faster, take on work beyond their own kit, or support customers with a broader print offer.”