None of the major press manufacturers will show running commercial webs at Ipex in April, citing budget and space restrictions.

MAN Roland, Heidelberg, KBA, Komori and Mitsubishi have all confirmed they will not take webs, but in some cases units will be on display.

Mitsubishi is trying to find space on its stand for a web unit. But sales director Roy Jenkinson said the Japanese manufacturer would have "definitely" shown a web had it had the space.

However, Mitsubishi will install a five-unit 16pp press at its Leeds showroom this summer.

Heidelberg is taking units but UK sales director Jim Todd said it was difficult to justify taking a complete machine. "Its a case of price performance," he said.

But he said the lack of webs was a shame for visitors "who like to come and dream". "Its a bit like going to the Boat Show and looking at a Sunseeker," he said.

MAN Roland has not taken a commercial web to Ipex since 1988 "and we wouldnt unless it was new", said Murray Lock, marketing director of UK agent PPS. But it will take a 16pp heatset DICOweb. "Its new and its exciting. We believe it will be the star of the show," said Lock.

Marketing director of organiser IIR, Ashley Whitworth, said webs do "add to the buzz". But he added Ipex was "an exhibition for doing business".

"Also its a very cyclical industry and the UK has bought a lot of web presses in the last few years," he said.

Story by Lauretta Roberts