"This has not been an easy decision to make as we have previously had two successful shows at Ipex," said a spokesman.

"However, just as we have encouraged our customers to ‘see the bigger picture’, we have had to look at our own bigger picture.

"We remain fully committed to our customers and to the printing industry as a whole, so with Canon and Océ solutions now addressing all segments of the market, we need to adopt the strategy that will most benefit our customers and indeed their customers."

Canon’s decision to withdraw is understood to have been driven by its concerns over achieving the required return on investment following the various high-profile withdrawals that have blighted the show.

Canon is understood to have decided to concentrate on more regionally focused events relating to specific applications, smaller customer engagement projects like its customer forum events and its Essential Business Builder programme.

The spokesman added that Canon will "continue to consider future European industry events and their fit with our business and marketing plans" and that it would continue to invest in its network of showroom facilities and its own "customer-focused events".

[Related: Ipex coming to Australia]

Canon was set to be the second-largest exhibitor at Ipex 2014, after Konica Minolta, and had committed to just over 2,000 sqm at the event. Canon Europe professional print director David Preskett was also president of Ipex 2014, however he has now resigned that role.

Canon’s withdrawal follows the decisions over the past eight months by HP, Kodak, Landa and Xerox to not participate in the show. Heidelberg, KBA and Komori have also withdrawn, which led the organisers, Informa Exhibitions, to refocus the show as a digital and cross-media event.

Informa managing director Peter Hall said in a statement released shortly after Canon’s: "Ipex has been an integral part of the international printing industry for over 100 years, and therefore we do not wish to compromise the brand's credibility.

"We will collaborate with all stakeholders to determine the role Ipex has to play to provide today's printer and their customers with the ideas, insights and solutions to effectively promote the power of print."

Event director Trevor Crawford stressed that Informa "remains absolutely committed to running Ipex in Excel in March next year".

"However, the shape, scope and size of that event will have to adapt and change.

"There’s not a lot else I can add at this stage. Clearly we need to meet with all our major stakeholders, all the major exhibitors, not just the Ipex Advisory Committee. We truly believe that printers both internationally and nationally want an event here next year and the vast majority of exhibitors want the same thing," he said.

"The irony in all this is that after receiving the news from Canon last night, we’ve actually made some progress with some of the exhibitors that had previously withdrawn."

[Related: More Ipex news]

This article originally appeared at printweek.com

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