As experienced at Ipex in 2002, visitor numbers are down on the boom Drupa of 2000, with 17,000 fewer attending that at the equivalent point four years ago. The number of international visitors has increased sharply, with organiser Messe Dsseldorf stating that 60% of attendees had come from abroad and with a particularly strong contingent coming from Asia. Some exhibitors believed the international quotient was actually higher than that, with some estimates as high as 70%.

Xerox reported that 68,000 visitors had toured its stand in hall 13 by the mid-way point, a figure that delighted senior vice president Val Govaerts: "We estimated that we would receive around 70,000 visitors to the stand over the length of the show, so we're delighted to have welcomed almost that number within the first week."

Anecdotal evidence suggests that UK visitor numbers, particularly among SME companies, are down. However, the UK's larger groups were out in force and with cheque books at the ready. Senior teams from Polestar, St Ives, Wyndeham, Goodhead Group, Quebecor, New Jarrold Printing, Southernprint, Taylor Bloxham, Graphoprint, Fulmar and Linney Group among others were at the show.

Drupa runs until 19 May.