In the age of Internet and digital media, the competitiveness of print is a recurrent theme of discussion. But the facts show print to be as solid as ever. “Today more paper, cardboard, foil and other materials are printed than ever before. The annual global total is almost 500 million tons,” pointed out Albrecht Bolza-Schünemann, President of drupa 2008 and President of Koenig & Bauer AG. At drupa 2008, the international supplier industry will present an abundance of innovations, integrated solutions and market-ready refinements that could give printed products the edge in competition between the media. “The feel, emotional power and high quality of printed products provide a substantial competitive advantage over electronic media, for example, at the point of sale, in brand communications, personalized mailings and large-format advertising,” added Albrecht Bolza-Schünemann. In addition, new growth markets are opening up due to electronic printing (the keywords here are security printing and brand protection) and networked communications (e.g. interactive campaigns).