DRUPA 04 REPORT Digital Printing -- Getting a Quick Impression

Incremental advances—or some variation on that theme—was the characterization most frequently applied to developments shown at Drupa. Instead of mega-trends, attendees saw refinements in selling propositions and convergence of market forces.

Maybe that impression just reflects the maturation of the market segment, which isn't necessarily bad. But Drupa has a long-standing reputation for providing a glimpse of where the industry is headed in the next four years and beyond. Judging by this past event, the digital printing operation of 2008 isn't going to look all that different from today's—or one from the year 2000, for that matter.