Speaking at the companys pre-Drupa press conference at its Augsburg HQ last week, he said we are all a bit more upbeat but nothing is normal.

Two-thirds of MAN Rolands customers business was advertising related, Finkbeiner said, and the pick-up in that market was not yet convincing. We are far away from the fact that advertising is booming or growing. [The market] is full of hesitation and questions about what is the right model for advertising.

Under its new slogan We are print, it will focus on three key drivers at Drupa: applications, automation and added value.

It will showcase a number of product enhancements, including faster running speeds for both its sheetfed and web presses.

It has boosted the running speed of its B1 700 and large-format 900 press by 1,000sph. They now run at 16,000sph and 14,000sph respectively a productivity enhancement of 7%. And a number of new makeready tools have been developed under the QuickChange umbrella.

Its XXL format 900 will be a focus. It will highlight the 1,300x1,850mm press ability to produce 64pp on one sheet and a nine-sheet billboard in four parts.

In web, it will show a six-unit 16pp Rotoman with an enhanced running speed of 90,000cph that features MAN Rolands latest enhancements in job change-over, webbing up and folding technology. A unit from a 72pp Lithoman will also be displayed.

MAN Roland will again form part of the PrintCity exhibit the Star Alliance of the Graphic Arts where it will demonstrate JDF [networking] in the real world of production.

Story by Lauretta Roberts