Here is a show so complicated and large, that it is not only impossible to see it in its entirety, but even to conceptualize its breadth, scope and vastness. Pity show planners at Messe Dusseldorf as they devise multiple channels to experience varieties of streams to help 400,000 attendees come to grips, and mine, the rich seams of technological gold permeating 1,800 exhibitors in 1.1 million sq.ft. of display area.

　　The potential for exhibitors to get lost in the crowd is seen in the creation of Drupa Innovation Parc sponsored by HP, a kind of incubator setting for presenting technologies from smaller firms and start-ups in Hall 7 among digital print suppliers.

　　Ralph Scholz, project manager for another such initiative—drupacube, for print buyers, notes, “It will allow print buyers to find out more about new marketing approaches without getting bogged down in a sea of technical details about printing inks, color balance and damping solutions—and I don't mean this in a negative way.”

　　Since most printers from the U.S. won't attend in person, GAM has devised continued rolling reports in print and at graphicartsonline/drupa. For those going to the show, one strategy to consider is attending the daily morning Compass lectures. World-class experts speak daily from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

　　Highlights tours of ten topical themes

　　Another way to go is to let someone decide what you'll see. Deutcher Drucker magazine will conduct guided tours spotlighting current industry developments. Participants in groups of 10 visit six to eight exhibitors relevant to each theme. Someone “in the know” will be on hand at each exhibitor stand visited.

　　The topics and times for English tours (weekdays only):

　　1.) Networked production: How much workflow? 1:30 p.m.

　　2.) Web2print: Automated production fundamentals 1:30 p.m.

　　3.) Creating print: Trends in design, imaging & layout 1:30 p.m.

　　4.) CTP: Innovative technologies, appropriate plates 1:45 p.m.

　　5.) Digital print: Cutting-edge systems, innovative products 1:45 p.m.

　　6.) Inkjet printing: process with a bright future 1:45 p.m.

　　7.) Offset: Improve cost effectiveness with automation 2:00 p.m.

　　8.) Mega-trend inline finishing: Systems, materials 2:00 p.m.

　　9.) Packaging and labels: Innovations in the spotlight 2:00 p.m.

　　10.) Print finishing: Innovative inline production 2:15

　　Cost is c 40; advance bookings www.highlightstouren.de.

　　Exhibitor previews

　　In the count-down to Drupa, exhibitors began previewing plans in January. Among many firms issuing broad overviews of Drupa plans (all posted at graphicartsonline.com) are Bobst, Dalim, Domino Printing Sciences, EFI, Fujifilm Graphic Systems, Heidelberg, Infoprint Systems KBA, Kodak, Kurz, MAN Roland, MacDermid, MegTec, Oce, MReal, Muller Martini, Presstek, Ricoh, Ryobi, Screen, Sun Chemical and UPM. Related releases and related reports are posted at graphicartsonline.com/drupa.

　　Heidelberg will opt for clean design for its exhibit in Halls 1 and 2, with its presentation centered around Hei Tech, Hei Value, Hei Performance and (even Hei School). Hall 1 includes its commercial print offerings; Hall 2 its packaging focus. The show sees introduction of wider Speedmasters, including the large-format XL162. A series of 5 Podcast tours include a.) general overview, b.) packaging printing, c.) commercial printing, d.) marketing managers and print buyers, and e.) a technical details for operators and production managers. Some 80 print products will be produced live, in collaboration with Adidas. All applications at the trade show are certified to FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) standards.

　　Kodak has built its exhibit to track its industry overview—the booth that is visually reminiscent of its Unified Workflow approach. It will launch Colorflow Software both as a standalone product, as well as an integrated solution within Kodak Prinergy Workflow System Version 5.0, which will also be introduced at drupa.

　　Screen is refocusing on inkjet and digital offset initiatives and will bring several print-on-demand products to the show, including the continuous-feed Truepress Jet520 for high-speed, variable-data work. Previewed at Ipex, this device is now commercially available. The company also will demonstrate the Jet 520 for newspaper, direct-mail and transpromo printing and bring its Truepress 344, saying it hopes to place about 45 units of the latter model annually.

　　Xerox exhibit plans, with vibrant colors to accent its new logo, will emphasize continuous-feed digital print technology and sustainability: the more than 100,000-sq.ft. exhibit is being constructed of reusable materials with energy-saving lighting. Even the tote bags distributed will be canvas rather than plastic. The new 650/1300 Continuous Feed Printing System will be shown; it can print up to 1,232 duplex letter-sized sheets.

　　MAN Roland, Sun Chemical, Oce and UPM form the underpinnings of an orderly view to drupa though a visit to PrintCity, which will include 30 exhibitors exhibiting a range of technologies from and consumables. MAN will show a large format 900 XXL perfector and is testing Kodak Versamark inkjet integrated to a ColorMAN XXL newspaper press for personalization at 80,000 copies per hour.

　　Komori will show a 5-color version of the Spica 29´´ perfector and new developments in the 40´´ press arena. New generation Mitsubishi and Akiyama 8-up presses, both of which previewed at IGAS, will appear at Drupa. Ryobi will introduce the model 1050, an 8-up 16,000 sph 40´´ press featuring double-diameter impression and transfer cylinders and an array of productivity options such as inline quality inspection, closed loop video color control and automated plate loading. Available for delivery one year after drupa, it's to be offered in S format with a 41.34×27.95´´ print area—and the larger XL with a 41.34×30.31´´ print area. Ryobi will also present an inline foiling and casting unit, first displayed at IGAS in September. This device, which fits above the final flexo chamber coater on the Ryobi B2 format 750 press, prints patterned glue to which it impresses a foiler roll to print foiled patterns at press speeds up to 15,000 sph. The foil is flashed fused to the substrate by a UV lamp that penetrates the slightly translucent material produced by Kurz. The same unit can also be used to impress a cast pattern on coated substrates, creating holographic effects in the coating surface. Ryobi also says it plans a technology demonstration of an LED lamp-based UV curing system, using one-fourth the wattage of conventional UV and emitting no ozone.

　　Fujifilm's “Digital Power at Your Control” stand in Hall 8b will highlight integration of analog and digital print “zones,” including Wide-Format Inkjet, Workflows and Color Management, Digital Printing and Offset Printing centered on Fujifilm CTP plates, including processless thermal and chemistry free violet plates. Fujifilm Dimatix in Hall 8b C02 will show industrial piezoelectric print heads and precision micro-pump technologies.