Indigo and Hewlett-Packard will share a stand at Ipex next April, by which time their merger deal should be complete.

The deal, announced at Print 01 in September, is running slightly behind the original schedule due to "complications" surrounding HP's merger with computer giant Compaq.

"The SCC requires [the Compaq deal] to be recognised first. We expect our deal to be official in early February/March, it should close by Ipex," said Indigo president and chief executive Benny Landa.

Once the deal is complete Indigo products will carry the HP badge, but the Indigo name will remain in the product name.

In addition Indigo will become a division of HP and retain its existing R&D and manufacturing bases.

Indigo will show 15 digital presses at Ipex (hall 5, stand 750), but the focus will be on end-user applications, said Landa.

"Our message won't be about machines and boxes. It will be about solutions and it will be about workflows," he said.

As Ipex 93 marked Indigo's launch, so Ipex 02 will be the show when digital printing will "move into the mainstream", predicted Landa.