Canon Inc. and Heidelberg Collaborate on Offset and Digital Printing Workflow Connectivity


Two Companies to Develop Link between Canon's imagePRESS C7000VP and Heidelberg's Prinect Digital Print Manager

CHICAGO-- Canon U.S.A., Inc., today announced that Canon Inc. and Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG will collaborate to develop connectivity between Canon's imagePRESS C7000VP digital press and Heidelberg's Prinect Digital Print Manager offering in the North American market. The collaboration will focus on creating seamless hybrid offset/digital workflow for commercial printers.

Poised to revolutionize digital printing, Canon's imagePRESS C7000VP digital press will deliver consistent print speed at 70 pages-per-minute (ppm) for letter-sized output in color regardless of the weight of the media combining productivity with a level of quality that rival offset. Prinect Digital Print Manager, a part of Heidelberg's Prinect workflow management system, allows for the integration of print systems, whether offset or digital presses, into a unified workflow, optimizing printing processes and systems capabilities.

"Canon is focused on moving into Commercial Printing," said Masaki Nakaoka, chief executive, Canon Inc. "Through the connectivity with Prinect, we can provide high quality businesses for commercial printing customers."

"With the integration of Canon's new imagePRESS C7000VP into the Prinect workflow, Heidelberg will add even more flexibility for printers to integrate their complete production environment," said Dr. Peter Leu, vice president, Product Management, Prinect. "In this way, Heidelberg is leading the path integrating print shop processes and thus cutting production costs."

Based on open industry standards using JDF and PDF, the connectivity will allow production data to flow between the imagePRESS C7000VP digital press and Prinect system, giving users the ability to view and better control jobs, manage production costs and optimize system usage.

The connection between the imagePRESS C7000VP digital press and the Prinect Digital Print Manager will be available in the first half of 2007.

About Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG

With a global market share for sheetfed offset printing machines of more than 40 percent, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is the world's leading solution provider for commercial and industrial customers in the print media industry. Headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany, the Company focuses on the entire process and value chain for popular format classes in the sheetfed offset and flexographic printing sectors. Apart from printing presses, the product portfolio includes plate imaging devices and finishing equipment, as well as software components designed to integrate all print manufacturing processes. In addition, Heidelberg offers a wide range of spare parts, consumables, used equipment and services, along with extensive training programs provided by the Print Media Academy. Furthermore, the Company assists its customers' investment plans by offering financing concepts.

Heidelberg is most active within the major OECD industrial regions and is expanding its involvement within growing markets such as Asia and Eastern Europe. With development and production sites in six countries and some 250 sales offices world-wide, the Company offers services to more than 200,000 customers around the globe. Heidelberg generates 85 percent of global sales through company-owned sales offices and well above 80 percent outside of Germany. In fiscal year 2005/2006, Heidelberg achieved sales of Euro 3.586 billion referring to the divisions Press, Postpress and Financial Services as well as a net profit of Euro 135 million.

As of March 31, 2006, the Group employed 18,716 staff worldwide.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial imaging solutions. The Company is listed as one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies in America and is rated #35 on the BusinessWeek list of "Top 100 Brands." Its parent company Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ) is a top patent holder of technology, ranking second overall in the U.S. in 2005, with global revenues of $31.8 billion. For more information, visit www.usa.canon.com

Contacts

Canon U.S.A. Web Site:

http://www.usa.canon.com

For sales info/customer support:

1-800-OK-CANON

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