Presstek DI Sees Strong Acceptance at an Demand Show
Presstek's Digital Offset Solutions Show How Printers Can Achieve Higher Quality, Profitability and Competitiveness
HUDSON, N.H., April 26 - Presstek Inc. (NASDAQ:PRST), the leading manufacturer and marketer of digital offset printing business solutions, demonstrated how print services companies can augment their existing equipment with Direct Imaging (DI®) digital offset presses to increase their profitability, printing quality and overall competitiveness at the On Demand Conference & Expo last week. As a result of its presence at the show, the company enjoyed multiple sales of digital offset equipment and a significant number of qualified new leads.
"Show attendees who operate toner machines need help maximizing their profits in what has become the sweet spot in the market - short runs of 250 to 10,000 four-color sheets," said Ed Marino, Presstek, president and CEO. "Our DI presses are optimized for runs of that length, which has become the fastest growing segment of the market. Print shop owners who visited our booth immediately understood how these systems could not only help them profitably retain their current customers whose needs might have expanded, but also would allow them to pursue lines of business that had previously been unavailable to them."
A typical job on a direct-to-press - or DI Press - device, such as a Presstek 52DI, costs on average about half as much per page as that of a comparable job run on high-volume, color, toner-based digital equipment, according to InfoTrends' U.S. Print On Demand Market Forecast: 2005-2010.
"I saw the Presstek DI for the first time at the On Demand show, and I was truly surprised by the performance of the press," said Joe Frassica, president of Frasco Printing in Waltham, Massachusetts. "It is a robust production system that is easy to use and would fit right into our production environment. The DI would allow us to compete with high-quality offset printing in the on demand market, and Presstek's presentation at the show certainly peaked my interest in DI printing."
Tom Roberts, president of Furbush-Roberts Printing, in Bangor, Maine installed a new Presstek DI three months ago. "The DI has accomplished two things for us," Roberts said. "First of all, it allows us to compete in the on demand short run color market. This was why we acquired the press and our expectations are being met. Secondly, it has opened doors to new business. We are attracting new customers because of the DI's ability and are obtaining a range of jobs from these accounts. This impact on our business has been a pleasant surprise."
This year's show marked the first time that Presstek displayed the DI presses under its own banner at the On Demand show. With over 3,000 DI systems installed worldwide, Presstek's family of DI presses has grown into a mainstream product that has been embraced by an increasing number of printers worldwide.
"Our strong sales and the highly qualified prospects from the show prove that Presstek has solutions for the on demand market and is committed to helping printers become more profitable and competitive," said Emile Tabassi, Presstek, vice president, North American sales. "Established DI users in attendance discussed their DI printing successes with prospects which clearly illustrated the benefit a DI press can bring to a shop."
Presstek displayed the following products:
o The Presstek 52DI - This landscape digital offset press operates at
up to 10,000 impressions per hour with a maximum page size of 20.47 x
14.76".
o The Presstek 34DI - This portrait format digital offset press
produces up to 7,000 13.39 x 18.11" sheets per hour.
Summary of Presstek DI Benefits
The 52 and 34 DIs offer the following advantages in the on demand market:
o Profitability
o Average 50% cost savings per letter-sized page
o 250 to 10,000 impression "sweet spot" range
o Increased competitiveness in short-run market
o Productivity
o Up to 14,000 to 20,000 letter-sized pages per hour
o Highly automated operation in a digital workflow
o Color consistency: sheet-to-sheet, job-to-job, day-to-day
o Same day turnaround capabilit
o Expanded capabilities and enhanced business performance
o Superior quality up to 300 lpi and FM screening
o Prints crisp details, smooth gradients, true to life skin tones and strong
solids without any extra time or cost premium
o Prints on a wide range of substrates: from plastic to heavy card
stock to onion skin(0.06 mm to 0.5 mm)
o Environmentally friendly
Presstek Digital Offset, See It Live
In addition to exhibiting at On Demand last week, Presstek also had strong showings at PrintFest 2007 in Long Beach, California and the grafik' Art trade show in Montreal, Quebec. This week Presstek was highlighting its digital offset solutions at Northprint in the U.K.
Twenty-five open houses have been scheduled for 2007. The next events are planned for Vancouver, San Francisco, Dayton, New York, and Chicago. For more information and a complete schedule, visit www.presstek.com/events or call 1-800-524-0003 x.3599 (1-603-594-8585, x.3599, from outside the United States).
About Presstek
Presstek Inc. is the leading manufacturer and marketer of high tech digital imaging solutions to the graphic arts and laser imaging markets. Presstek's patented DI®, CTP and plate products provide a streamlined workflow in a chemistry-free environment, thereby reducing printing cycle time and lowering production costs. Presstek solutions are designed to make it easier for printers to cost effectively meet increasing customer demand for high-quality, shorter print runs and faster turnaround while providing improved profit margins. Presstek subsidiary, Lasertel, Inc., manufactures semiconductor laser diodes for Presstek's and external customers' applications. For more information visit www.presstek.com/, or call 603-595-7000 or email: info@presstek.com.
CONTACTS:
Betty LaBaugh
Public Relations Manager, Presstek
603-594-8585 ext. 3441
blabaugh@presstek.com
Sara Scavongelli
Davies Murphy Group, Inc.
781-418-2431
presstek@daviesmurphy.com for Presstek Inc.
Source: Presstek Inc.
Web site: http://www.presstek.com/
