Printers, and in particular "eco-friendly" machines, were the main spend, with 40% likely to make an investment. A quarter of firms were planning to invest in finishing, while software was also highlighted with 23% considering variable data and 18% workflow.

Fabrics topped the interest in substrates with 42% of firms planning investment in textile printing capabilities.

"Two thirds of respondents have innovated to address the downturn, with more than half entering new business areas and a third changing their sales and marketing strategies," said Fespa sales and marketing director Marcus Timson, which he added endorsed the innovation theme of the event.

Exhibitors backed up the survey; according to HP it received 350 leads for its latex printers, while EFI claimed interest at the show eclipsed that of any other recent event. 

Business confidence was also high, with the majority of respondents (57%) saying they believed the recession was over. That confidence was not universal with a fifth of respondents not expecting business to return to pre-recessionary levels, and 5% seeing the recession continuing beyond 2011.

Fespa will publish the full results of the survey later this month.