Dusseldorf, 17 January 2008 and Delhi, 9 February 2008 – As it prepares for drupa from May 29 to June 11, the world’s largest printing exhibition later this year, Xerox launched its fastest yet continuous feed printing system that helps print providers capitalize on the high-speed, high-volume monochrome printing market. The new high-speed system makes it easier to produce books, manuals and trans-promotional applications.

At a media pre-briefing here today for drupa 2008 Valerie Blauvelt Xerox Vice President Marketing for Xerox PSG, took the wraps off the Xerox 650/1300 monochrome continuous feed printing system, which can print up to 1, 232 duplex A4 images per minute. The system uses dry toner, xerographic imaging and flash-fusing technology – a unique process that does not use heat or pressure or make contact with the paper, allowing the device to print on a wider array of substrates than competitive systems.

Maximum resolution is 1200 x 600 dpi and an optional Xerox FreeFlowDocuSP print controller is also available. The system also features a wide print web that enables flexible imposition so users can print more efficiently and reduce costs and paper waste. The Xerox 650/1300 Continuous Feed Printing System will be available for order taking immediately in Europe. In North America and developing markets, order taking will begin in the second quarter of this year.

At drupa, Xerox will also demonstrate the speed and flexibility of its, the fastest full-colour toner-based continuous feed device. Announced first in Australia and India at IPEX South Asia even in October near New Delhi by Xerox President Ursula Burns, the Xerox 490/980 prints at 600 dpi resolution. Xerox says that the 490/980 maintains top speed when printing full colour or black and white, regardless of the number of colours used or the weight of the paper. It prints 226 feet per minute (69 metres) or 450 images per minute two-up, simplex on A4 paper, and 900 images per minute when in the duplex configuration.

Ms. Blauvelt like many of the other major drupa exhibitors spoke this week about the packaging applications that will be shown in May and even at Interpack in April. Xerox will show some inline short-run and carton printing and varnishing on an iGen press with an Epic on-line coater and offline diecutting on an Esko Kongsberg sample maker. An added feature in these demonstrations will be the incorporation of some of Xerox’ digital security and brand protection techniques for packaging. Xerox says that the packaging of an expensive drug can contain variable information such as patient’s name, prescription and the use by date as well as other information. The company says that as much 50 per cent of pharma packaging can be digital. Apparently Xerox has already sold more than 10 packaging systems primarily for folding cartons.

Xerox will also show at drupa its work with Fujifilm in integrated prepress workflow, colour management, and integrated colour mapping. With a Heidelberg press running on the Xerox stand, hybrid solutions using the Prinect front-end workflow will be demonstrated. Offset and digital presses running side by side from the Prinect workflow and showing the good colour matching of the two processes is meant to convince Heidelberg users of the hybrid opportunities.

In the question and answer international trade journalists brought out comments on various issues including Xerox’ impending entry to ink jet wide format market where again mention was made of the solid state ink technology that the company believes is environmentally friendly. Although not stated there was a hint that Xerox might show something in this area at drupa. We asked Ms. Blauvelt about the business model that Xerox uses and whether there might be some change in the click charge model that is current used for digital presses. We explained that Anne Mulcahy in reply to a similar question posed to her in Delhi, said that, “the click-charge model was a model in transition.” However, the response at the drupa preview in Dusseldorf was that there is no change in the business model. However we were promised a clarification that we did receive on 8 February from Jennifer Wasmer, Director of Public Relations for the Developing Markets Operations and which we are reproducing in full alongside as a separate box item.

The Xerox stand at drupa 2008 will be located in Hall 8b and expected to be visited by more than 100,000 visitors during the 14-day event. At Interpack, Xerox will be in the booth of StoraEnso, Hall xx, Xu

Box item – Xerox on the click charge business model

“Your question from the drupa Media Briefing prompted some discussion internally because it seems to be more related to our Office business. In all cases, Xerox looks at total cost of ownership, value and the services we can provide to our customers.

As your audience is focused on production printing, I can say that Xerox knows that true production printing is not charged on a cost-per-page basis. It is charged based on the value to the end customer. Digital production printers are service providers, and therefore develop their pricing based on the whole service – from design/ creation to finishing. While in offset printing jobs may be priced based on number of pages, digital printing tends to be used for shorter-run, higher value jobs that compliment offset printing.