According to UK managing director Andreas Schillinger, the evolution of digital finishing will continue at the show, where connectivity will also be a focus.

"We will have new launches in digital finishing as well as further developments of what's been out there for a while and is successful," he said. "It will be a natural progression in line with the way the market has developed."

Schillinger added that traditional finishing equipment remained "very important" to the company and that its equipment for the short-run digital market would replicate its traditional focus on high speed, heavy-duty use.

Muller Martini will also be promoting its life cycle management service, to help users get the best performance from their finishing equipment throughout its lifecycle, as well as greater connectivity between finishing and print workflows and MIS.

"Connectivity is becoming more and more important especially in digital when you have complete product tracking from start to finish and complete control of every single product that goes through," said Schillinger.

"We have our connex system which helps to track products and we link up to any other vendor out there – in the MIS environment and to digital print engine controllers – it's a very comprehensive package."

Muller Martini's stand, at 2,100sqm, is smaller than its 2008 exhibition space and comparable to Drupa 2004; Schillinger said the manufacturer still had a considerable presence but had been "a bit more realistic" in the current economic climate.

"We are all looking forward to Drupa 2012 and getting as many people as possible to come and join us there," he added.