Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure that Ipex would have fought back and it would have pointed out that it’s more than just a print show, especially with the planned integration of its Cross Media event in 2014.

By comparison, Drupa is unashamedly about technology and kit, pure and simple. But (and it’s a big but) if it boiled down to a straight choice between vendors exhibiting at one or the other then, right now, they would probably plump for the ‘special one’ - AKA Drupa.

It shouldn’t be a case of either or. The real threats to both shows aren’t necessarily each other, they’re exhibitions in emerging markets, ‘vertical’ shows like Fespa and LabelExpo and vendors own events.

Trying to be the show that is all things to all people is incredibly difficult and, arguably, Drupa is the only event that can lay claim to that crown – but even Messe Düsseldorf knows that it can’t take its position as the world’s leading show for granted.

We’re lucky in Western Europe that we play host to the two leading commercial print shows, but there’s no guarantee that will be the case for ever.

I hope that both shows seize this reprieve as an opportunity to differentiate themselves further for exhibitors and visitors. If they don’t, then they will inevitably be forced to go toe-to-toe one day. And if that happens, neither is likely to walk away unscathed.