The three-day event, which began on Tuesday and was run in conjunction with Vision in Print, had already notched up almost 100 visitors by yesterday afternoon, who had arrived to tour the press giant's showroom and listen to tips on lean manufacturing.

Heidelberg UK marketing manager Mark Hogan said there had been an air of optimism at the show and that he anticipated 150 visitors in total: "A lot of people believe that now is the time to invest as costs need to be taken out more than ever in a recession."

He added that the decision to bring in Vision in Print reflected the press manufacturer's belief in lean manufacturing – "a philosophy for any time".

On display at the Midlands event was Heidelberg's range of kit, including the showcase Speedmaster XL 105 long perfector, its range of finishing kit and its Prinect pre-press software.

Hogan said: "This show brings together all that we do at Heidelberg and really shows that we are more than the sum of our parts."

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