Expanded Presstek DI Press Portfolio, Broadest Range of Computer-to-Plate Solutions on Display #Ipex

BIRMINGHAM, UK—May 19, 2010—Presstek, Inc. (NASDAQ: PRST), a leading supplier of digital offset printing solutions to the printing and communications industries, today announced that it will be demonstrating a wide-range of DI digital offset presses and a large selection of CTP solutions at Ipex, scheduled for May 18-25, 2010, in Birmingham, UK. Presstek will be located in Hall 7, Stand C480.

The Presstek 75DI press will make its worldwide debut at the show, and the Presstek 52DI-AC will be on exhibit for the first time in Europe. These highly automated digital offset presses deliver exceptional quality and cost-effective short-run color to the world of offset. With optimum print runs of 500 to 20,000, Presstek DI digital offset presses bridge the gap between digital toner and conventional offset printing, making them a complementary addition to print shops of all sizes.

"We will be featuring the new Presstek 75DI at IPEX," said Jeff Jacobson, Chairman, President & CEO of Presstek. "We believe that many larger printers have been waiting for a press that offers the business advantages of the Presstek 75DI to round out their production portfolios. We anticipate strong market approval of this breakthrough product when visitors see it being demonstrated on the IPEX show floor."

With a Presstek DI digital offset press, a digital file is sent directly to the press without the use of offline platemaking processes. All plates are simultaneously imaged on press in precise register; automated press settings help ensure consistently high quality throughout the run without significant operator intervention. With the new Presstek 75DI a complete makeready, including plate imaging, takes only six minutes.

Presstek's portfolio of DI digital offset presses provides the most environmentally-friendly offset printing solution on the market. Environmental benefits include: chemistry-free on-press platemaking, waterless printing, support of recycled papers and vegetable-based inks, no use of fountain solutions significantly reducing VOC's, and fast makeready which results in significantly reduced waste.

"Many forces have combined to raise the interest in environmentally friendly printing," said Guy Sasson Presstek’s President, Europe, Africa, and Middle East Region. "This includes print buyers looking for printers to produce printed materials in a more sustainable manner, rising commodity prices such as paper, ink and energy, increased government regulations, and the demand for shorter runs. These changes are part of the ever evolving marketplace, and innovative solutions like Presstek DI digital offset presses are meeting these requirements."

Presstek's DI Digital Offset Portfolio

Presstek DI digital offset presses are available in three basic models, the Presstek 75DI, the Presstek 52DI and the Presstek 34DI. The table at the end of this release offers a comparison of these presses.

The new Presstek 75DI digital offset press continues the Presstek DI tradition of very high quality (300 lpi or stochastic screening); extreme automation (6-minute job-to-job turnover); and a small environmental footprint with waterless printing technology, chemistry-free imaging on-press, fast run-up for minimal waste, and consistent quality from job to job and within each job.

In addition, the Presstek 75DI press incorporates significant technological advances, including utilization of new on-press imaging technology. This next-generation imaging technology utilizes a single lens imaging concept in which all diodes image through a single lens, resulting in improved image quality and even easier makeready. The efficiency of the press is further enhanced by a simultaneous imaging and cleaning of plates that optimizes the makeready time between jobs.

“We are also pleased to be demonstrating the Presstek 52DI-AC at IPEX, being shown for the first time in Europe,” added Jacobson. “The 52DI-AC’s inline aqueous coater supports both flood and spot aqueous coating. This expanded DI press portfolio truly offers choices that can meet the needs of print shops and in-plant operations of all sizes and demonstrates Presstek’s dedication to expanding the range of applications, sizes of businesses, and market segments for which these presses, unmatched in the marketplace, are ideally suited.”

Presstek DI presses are the ideal complement for shops with larger conventional offset presses that need to extend the range of applications they can produce, make shorter runs more profitable and maintain the high level of quality that will ensure their ability to remain competitive in a consolidating market. They are also complementary to production-level digital toner-based presses that can be expensive to operate for runs of 500 sheets or more. Presstek DI presses truly provide the bridge for high quality, profitable print for run lengths from 500 to 20,000 impressions.

Broadest Range of Computer-to-Plate Solutions

Four product families on display include Compass, Dimension Pro, Vector and DPM. Presstek will also feature its chemistry-free Aurora Pro, Anthem Pro and Freedom Pro plates, along with Aeon, a high resolution, no preheat thermal plate. Aeon offers runs of up to 200,000 and as many as 1,000,000 impressions when baked.

"Our range of CTP hardware and plate solutions is unmatched in the industry," said Kathleen McHugh, Presstek’s Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. "Presstek is the world’s leading supplier of chemistry-free plates, and we have focused a significant portion of our product portfolio on this heritage. At the same time, we are focused on delivering open platform solutions, including both platesetters and plates, which can meet the requirements of the entire commercial print market. Visitors to our stand at IPEX will see this strategy in action."

The CTP Portfolio

While Presstek believes strongly in the importance of the environmental sustainability of a completely chemistry-free platemaking process, we also understand that certain applications are not yet amenable to this strategy. In order to cover the complete market requirements for 2-, 4- and 8-page printing operations of all sizes, Presstek has organized a comprehensive portfolio which is highlighted in the tables at the end of this release.

The Compass Series is Presstek’s high-end, completely automated CTP solution. Its multi-cassette autoloader provides complete production flexibility; each cassette holds plates of different sizes and can be reloaded without interrupting production. Compass supports Presstek’s chemistry-free Aurora Pro, Aeon and other 830 nm plates. Four- and eight-page models are available.

Also available in four- and eight-page configurations, the Dimension Pro is Presstek’s mid-range offering. The base unit is semi-automated, and it also available with an optional automated plate loading system. It supports Presstek’s chemistry-free Aurora Pro and Anthem Pro as well as Aeon and other 830 nm plates.

The Vector FL52 features an integrated plate washer and uses Presstek’s chemistry-free Freedom Pro plates. The Vector offers small format (52cm and under) printers a metal platemaking solution that provides higher productivity, a cleaner operation, and a lower overall operating cost.

The Presstek DPM Pro 400 is an easy-to-use, fully automated, high resolution polyester plate CTP system with an integrated plate processor. It supports plate widths up to 16.31" (414mm) and is faster, more economical to use, more environmentally-friendly, and more compact than comparable choices. The DPM Pro is available in the UK, North America, and other select regions.

"We are thrilled to be demonstrating such a complete portfolio of platesetters and plates at IPEX," said Guy Sasson Presstek’s President, Europe, Africa, and Middle East Region. "It is very exciting to have such a competitive mix of products and to be able to provide viable solutions to accounts of all sizes. We invite visitors to our booth to explore this full range of products. Our experts will be on hand to discuss which solution is best for a particular production environment with individual visitors."

About Presstek
Presstek, Inc. is a leading supplier of digital offset printing solutions to the printing and communications industries. Presstek’s DI® digital offset solutions bridge the gap between toner and conventional offset printing, enabling printers to cost effectively meet increasing customer demand for high quality, short run color printing with a fast turnaround time while providing improved profit margins. The Company’s CTP portfolio ranges from two-page to eight-page systems, many of which are fully automated. These systems support Presstek’s line of chemistry-free plates as well as Aeon, a no preheat thermal plate which offers run lengths up to one million impressions. Presstek also offers a range of workflow solutions, pressroom supplies, and reliable service. Presstek is well positioned to support print environments of any size on a worldwide basis. For more information visit www.presstek.com, send an e-mail to info@presstek.com or call +44 20 8745 8000 (Europe) or +1 603 595 7000 (North America).