HP's very large stand at drupa08 was very busy and at its press conference Vyomesh Joshi said that by the next drupa the company expects to be largest supplier in the industry. HP showed its very wide range of digital products including proofing, signage, digital offset presses, and its huge new very high speed web fed inkjet press that is under development and meant to compete with offset in quality, speed and cost. On the HP-Indigo side, this was the first public showing of this press based on the Edgeline technology and to us it was impressive although some reviewers cavilled at the low ink coverage of the multicolour printing been done on both sides of the web at the show. This product is still some way off from market but it could be the hot seller at the next drupa along with Kodak’s Stream concept press.

HP’s Indian customers after this show will not only install more Indigo 5500 presses of which it had installed five even before drupa but also some with the in-line coater option. There is serious customer interest in the web fed WS 6000 industrial press from label printers.

For HP Scitex drupa08 was an opportunity to show their recently purchased and speedily integrated product line from Nur and Colorspan. Apparently this widening of the signage printer range met with considerable resonance from both repeat and first-time Indian customers. Interest also seemed to veer toward hybrid solutions to handle rolls, sheets, and UV inks. Many Indian printers find that the Nur 2700 and 5300 and the Colorspan 45-500 serve their objectives of both versatility and productivity.

It is expected that the high-end signage market in India will continue to grow upward of 35 per cent and this will be another high growth banner year for HP Scitex and its dealer in India, Insight Communications. MMT, which has offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata, signed for four Nur 5300 printers at the show in one of the deals that has been made public. There is however some concern from customers on the rising prices of inputs and consumables exacerbated by the devaluation of the rupee over the last six months.