Of course, we're all so busy chasing down press conferences and interviews that there is little time to talk amongst ourselves. The publisher of Middle Eastern Printer was surprised to learn that I receive and read the English language version of his magazine. And my friend Paulo Stucchi, editor of the Brazilian magazine Desktop, still thinks it's pretty odd that I want access to a magazine that is written in Portuguese, which I obviously can't read. What can I say...I want to be aware of what's going on in the rest of the world. And it's better to do more than play catch up once every four years.

No matter how big or small your company, the perspective you can gain from attending drupa offers long lasting benefits. You'll get more out out of it than simply goggling at the latest product innovations. I will give you a different viewpoint and a better grasp of what's going on in the printing industry at large. So give some serious thought to drupa 2016. The intangible benefits you'll bring away from the show will last longer than any souvenir. It is well worth the effort of making the trip.