People come to DRUPA to buy and sell, and the process is well underway before the Düsseldorf trade fair even opens.
At the press conferences of Kodak and manroland web on the show's eve, both were on the lookout to make deals.
Apart from its CTP and prepress workflow products, Kodak's highlight offering for the newspaper industry is Prosper, the world's fastest digital newspaper press... and you can buy one (for up to $4 million), or you can buy the business.
Earlier this year the company announced that it had decided to sell the Stream technology-based business, arguing that it needs a level of investment only a much bigger company could deliver; drop-on-demand Versamark technology is not included.
At Kodak's press conference yesterday, chief executive Jeff Clarke said they were "sorting through" a number of offers and proposals with their investment advisers. "There has been significant interest, and very positive feedback on the advantages of current and new Ultrastream technology," he says.
So among those scrutinizing the two Prosper 6000 presses at the show will be prospective purchasers of both kinds. "It's really doing very well, but needs the investment of a company way larger that ours," says Clarke. That said, he adds that Kodak is in profit on $1.8 billion revenue for 2015, a $500 million cash balance and "committed to print for the long term".
The Utrastream system unveiled at DRUPA delivers 600 x 1800dpi resolution at 153 metres a minute - about half the speed of the 6000C gaining popularity with publishers - with seven-colour (CMYKOGV) Prosper S printheads also shown printing flexible film for packaging, which now comprises 70 per cent of printhead applications.
On the Kodak stand, a press is producing magazines (via manroland's FoldLine finishing system) and posters (to a Vits sheeter).
Which brings us to manroland web: Here outgoing chief executive Jörn Gossé talked of the restructured company' and its cashed-up parent Possehl Group - which scored 167 million Euros 2015 EBIT (on a record 3.5 billion Euros revenue) - and interest in diversification into non-core and new business acquisitions.
Is Kodak's Prosper a target: "If there's money to be made, we'd look at it," he says, adding, "but I haven't seen the figures."
Gossée says that manroland web has increased its market share from 24 per cent in 2013 to 45 per cent (2015) in a declining market. In "the best market conditions ever", he says production capacity is full to 2017, with another year's capacity likely to be booked at DRUPA. Contributors have been digital finishing - with 20 lines sold - and service (including press upgrades) which now account for 40 per cent of business.
To keep the newspaper press business moving, the company announced a new 90,000 cph Geoman e:line double-width press offering with a "20 per cent off" price tag.