This coming April will see IPEX 2006, the huge UK printing exhibition. This is one of the largest print exhibitions in the world, significantly larger than Print in Chicago, but not as large as drupa in Düsseldorf, Germany. Coming two years before the next drupa, and two years after the previous one, it is a significant indicator of what is happening in the world’s printing industries. Over the next couple of months leading up to IPEX we shall be getting many announcements of what will be seen at the event. In forthcoming Tribute’s Tuesday articles I will no doubt be covering some of these.

Prior to such announcements I would like to look at what I think will be a few of the trends that are likely to be seen and which may shape some of the directions of the industry in future. First of all a correction to something I have written earlier. Last week in my article on short-run printing I commented on Heidelberg saying that it would be concentrating on fast makereadies. That is true, but not with a technology I spoke about, Smart Plate Change. This is a concept previewed at the last drupa, but I am advised that this will not be shown as an available technology at IPEX. No doubt Heidelberg will have something else to show to achieve faster makereadies, but is not at this time telling us what this is. Perhaps we shall hear more at their pre-IPEX press event in late February.

Coming two years before the next drupa and two years after the previous one, IPEX 2006 is a significant indicator of what is happening in the world’s printing industries.