"The first day was relatively quiet, but we feel that had a lot to do with the funeral of the Queen Mother," he said. But he felt the second and third days of the exhibition were busier. "We still have probably have had fewer customers than four years ago," he added, "but there are a lot of decision makers and people planning to make investments.

"We are quite pleased with what we have seen so far. I think Ipex is an important show and has come at the right time to show our customers the improvements we have made."

Muller said the firm had to make its customers "more cost effective" to help print compete against the threat from electronic media. "The printing industry is fighting for advertising so we need to provide a lot of benefits to our customers."

To that end several new pieces of Muller Martini kit are making their UK debuts at Ipex. It is showing the Optima saddle stitcher, Valore saddle stitcher, the Acoro A7 perfect binder, and its new A74C web press.

The 16,000cph Optima is targeted at high-volume print groups and can cope with sizes from 480x325mm to 90x95mm. It also features Mullers swing action trimmer, which is claimed to offer clean single book trimming at full speed.

The Valore is a brand new entry-level stitcher that Muller said was ideal for printers bringing finishing in-house for the first time. It operates at up to 6,000sph and can run with only one operator.

The Acoro A7 is the big brother to the Acoro A5. It has a maximum speed of 7,000cph and up to 28 clamps.

Muller Martinis A74C narrow web press is also being shown for the first time at Ipex. The first model is being installed at a US printer. The press is targeted at high-quality direct mail printers.

Muller Martini has also announced an automatic workflow link with ScenicSoft to connect the pre-press and finishing processes.

Andreas Schillinger, Mullers UK managing director, said that although Mullers kit had been open to links for some time, take-up had been slow.

But he hoped this situation would change as "people are realising that the actual money is really made in finishing".

Schillinger said Muller now had most of the market covered, especially as it is showing its finishing kit with digital presses from IBM and Oc at the show.

Muller Martini is on Stand 200, Hall 9.