Some 1,800 companies will showcase their latest products within 19 buildings across 170,000sqm of floor space at Drupa 2008.

More than 500,000 visitors and exhibitors are expected to attend and this year Drupa hosts a series of special events, including the Drupa innovation parc with "printbuyer integration parc", "JDF experience parc", and "JDF experience theatre" as well as Compass Sessions and Highlights Tours.

All the biggest names in print will be present, with Xerox having bagged the biggest slice of floor space at the show with its greenest ever stand.

Heidelberg has built an entire print shop comprising 120 print units in 17 presses and miles of cabling on its 7,800sqm stand.

Fujifilm, meanwhile, is hoping to steal the show with its industry first B2 digital inkjet press.

The show has become such a centre of gravity for the industry that many manufacturers cited the "Drupa effect" behind poorer than usual sales in the financial quarters leading up to the show, hoping to make up the shortfall in post Drupa sales.

As ever, PrintWeek is there in force at the Haymarket Print Group stand in Hall 7, C01.