As the only press manufacturer at Northprint, I guess the first question has to be why are you here? There are three reasons. Firstly, we didn't attend the show last time [in 2009] and the time before that was a bit of a damp squib, too, and if I'm honest I think that was because the show wasn't managed particularly well - but I think with Trevor Crawford's involvement that has all changed.

Secondly, our biggest geographic customer base is in the north, so it's important that we're here. Finally, in the past few years there has been talk that the show will be become a purely digital event and that's not what the industry wants, it's bigger than just digital, or just litho for that matter - it should be about combining the best of both.

What are your goals for the show? Come and see. We haven't bought kit as we don't think it's that kind of show, it worked for us at Ipex and we want to build on that. So for people that couldn't make Ipex we want to sit down and talk to them and develop a greater understanding of their business, their investment programmes and strategies.

So are you focused on applications, not kit then? It's about applications, value-added printing and introducing our strategic partner Océ and about showing that we're not just about machinery, we're about consumables, service, modifications and just understanding our customers' needs better. This is a real Manroland GB event, we've financed it locally, and it's not cheap, but we've put a lot of effort in and we're convinced it will be a success.

How will you measure that success? We've got plenty of indicators already. We sponsored the Northprint VIP programme and as part of that we've invited a lot of VIPs ourselves and an early indicator has been the very positive response we've had from the people we've invited.

A week before the show, 55% of the people we wanted to come to Harrogate have pledged to come, and that's great.

To measure the ultimate success of the show, it will probably take three to six months and that will be in terms of the number of projects we get involved with and how many of those turn into orders, not just in terms of equipment, but service and consumables. There has to be a return on investment.

Do you think regional shows such as Northprint have to evolve then to ensure that ROI? Northprint has already to an extent, it used to largely be a networking event. Clearly Harrogate is a lovely town, but the recession has changed our business and our customers' businesses and shows have to offer something a little bit different.

What about the mooted change of location to Manchester, would that be good idea? As an industry we like familiarity, but if this show is a success I really believe the event should be even further developed, in Harrogate. But if it's only 'OK' and doesn't really move on, then I think that perhaps it will be the right time to move and look at relocating to see if that gives it a shot in the arm.

You mentioned the Océ partnership earlier, how's that going? Are you actively marketing the JetStreams and ColourStreams in the UK now? We've had high-level meetings between the two UK companies and we've now got an understanding and we're going to be actively promoting their equipment right the way up from the wide-format Arizona to the JetStreams and ColourStreams. We're taking this very seriously, but we're just not singing and dancing about it. Océ will be on the stand and we'll be talking about the partnership of digital and litho, much like we did at Digi:media and that worked very well.

So you'll try to build on that? Yes we will. One of the interesting things is that we're the only litho press manufacturer here. And I'm delighted about that. We waited and waited to the point that we knew no-one else was coming before we committed.

Was that a key driver then? Partly. I think the others have missed a trick, which I'm delighted about.

Is the Océ partnership more a lead generation exercise though, rather than Manroland actually going out there and selling them? We've all had a close look at the Océ equipment and the next step is for them to come and look at ours. But the interesting thing is that with regard to the JetStream and ColourStream we'll be working side by side, hand in hand together. With regard to the Arizona and other equipment we'll be taking a different approach because they already have a very established business.

Manroland has also hinted about the R&D possibilities of the partnership, for instance your folder technology on the Océ machines? There's already a lot of equipment already being manufactured in R&D, which I can't talk about. I'm sure it won't be too long before that's all announced and demonstrated.

Maybe in time for Drupa? I think before.

Your other partnership is the Manroland GB tie-up with web-to-print specialist RedTie, how's that going? That's an interesting one. Last year from Ipex we were trying to sell the RedTie system to our customers and we were successful in several areas, Ireland in particular. But there was a change of management [at RedTie] in March and I'm disappointed that they have not been in touch about their future plans. As a result the activity has slowed considerably. I'm not saying it won't get back to where it needs to be, but we're here at Northprint and so are they, so put it this way, I'm looking forward to sitting down and maybe having a conversation with the new senior management.

While we're on the subject of partnerships, what's your take on the Heidelberg and Ricoh tie-up? Well, and this is my personal opinion, Heidelberg, like Manroland, had been looking for a digital partner and there were all sorts of names bandied around prior to the announcement. I'm a little surprised it ended up being Ricoh, I would have thought it would have been a bigger player; I'm also a little surprised that Ricoh and Heidelberg were on different stands at Digi:media last month and not showing the united front I thought they would. We'll have to wait and see what develops. Heidelberg has been here once before and they parked it up and focused on litho, I'm not sure they're completely committed, but we'll have to wait and see. I think if it's not established by the time we get to Drupa next year, then I think there could be some cause from concern. It's an interesting partnership and I'm sure it's raised a few eyebrows. I know that there are a few cynics out there who thought it was a knee-jerk reaction to what others were doing, but I couldn't possibly comment on that.

Fair enough, so finally what's your favourite Harrogate hotspot, and you can't say Bettys? I'll be spending a bit of time in the Old Bell Tavern on Royal Parade - it's a traditional English town pub and you feel like you're in 1950s and it's got real ale, so I'm sure I'll be having a couple of beers there.