After being one of the biggest exhibitors at recent DRUPA and Ipex shows, digital press maker Xerox has pulled the plug on participation in the UK exhibition which moves to London next year.

It is not clear whether the decision will affect Fujifilm, Xerox’s Asia-Pacific partner in Fuji Xerox and a major prepress and digital printing vendor in its own right.

The move by Xerox follows similar decisions by HP, Heidelberg, Komori and Agfa throws doubt on the future of Ipex, which leaves its traditional NEC venue in Birmingham for the ExCel Centre in London’s Docklands in 2014.

Xerox global graphic communications president Jeff Jacobson says the company has been reevaluating how best to reach customers and prospects. “As an anchor exhibitor for many years, this decision was not an easy one,” he says.

The company plans to focus more on customer retention with small, user group events.