Punch Graphix Looks Back on a Successful Drupa 2008

ITASCA, IL—June 19, 2008—Punch Graphix today reports that this year’s drupa, the world’s most prestigious print media trade fair, has been a total success. The Xeikon, basysPrint divisions and the newspaper CtP division received strong demand for order fulfillment. The result confirms the market’s endorsement of Punch Graphix’s technology and its new line of products. Punch Graphix received order requests of more than 25 million Euros, or more than 29.3% of the group’s equipment sales reported for 2007, exceeding the targets set prior to the event.

The Xeikon division showcased its new Xeikon 8000, the Xeikon 6000 with the new 1200 dpi imaging head and the all new Xeikon 3300, the fastest high-resolution digital five color label press on the market. These three world premieres for fast, cost-effective, and eco-friendly printing were demonstrated in real-life applications: printing a high quality, complex direct mailing (Xeikon 8000), an integrated book-on-demand application (Xeikon 6000) and a selection of the most sophisticated labels on a wide range of substrates (Xeikon 3300). These demonstrations revealed Xeikon’s true ‘sweet spot’: quality and speed in digital printing.

The basysPrint division premiered its new UV-Setters 450 and 850 with laser exposure technology for four up and eight up applications and VLF (very large format) and Super VLF UV Setters with its new MCA automation solution (multi-cassette- automation). Building on the proven technology of its predecessors and the group’s track record in the newspaper printing segment, this new platform not only continues to offer the outstanding image quality so characteristic of basysPrint but also delivers improved efficiency and considerably higher productivity, while ensuring unrivalled stability and cost efficiency.

“This time around, digital printing has been fully accepted as a mature mainstream technology in the industry, with Xeikon and basysPrint clearly on the radar of prospective buyers,” says Wim Deblauwe, chief executive officer at Punch Graphix. “As far as UV-CtP is concerned, I believe we have seen the beginning of a trend reversal,” says Paul Willems, chief marketing officer at Punch Graphix, “Both users and suppliers have come to realize the advantages of using conventional plates. The print quality is outstanding; there is a definite cost advantage, and the ease of use is an added bonus. These three factors explain why we see an increase in conventional plates, not only in the emerging markets where printers are making the transition to filmless printing, but in the mature markets as well. UV-CtP is no longer the niche technology it was four years ago. I think we can say that UV-CtP has grown into a mainstream technology and is even replacing digital plate CtP systems.”

Willems added, “We were also pleased to see that the environmental aspects were an important topic of discussion, not because of the hype the print industry may have created, but because brand owners see the necessity for green initiatives. The market is asking for environmentally responsible print solutions, encouraging or even forcing printers to opt for eco-friendly alternatives. This trend confirms that we have made the right choices and that we should definitely continue our efforts.”

“All in all, this year’s drupa has been a very positive event for us, attracting well-informed decision makers from all continents,” concludes Wim Deblauwe. Xeikon and basysPrint showcased a whole new range of innovative products presently commercially available. Traditionally, drupa is the event where most companies announce their innovations.

About drupa

drupa 2008 was held from May 29 to June 11 in Düsseldorf, Germany. This global trade fair, dubbed ‘the Olympic Games for the graphics industry’ is organized every 4 years and has become the leading trend and business barometer of the worldwide print and media industry. This year’s edition attracted 1,971 exhibitors from 52 countries and 391,000 visitors from from all over the world.

About Punch Graphix
Punch Graphix provides innovative, competitive and environmentally friendly imaging and printing solutions for the global graphics industry. Under the Xeikon brand name, Punch Graphix designs, develops and delivers high-end digital colour printing systems, software and consumables for the commercial, document printing and industrial markets. Under the basysPrint brand and as an OEM supplier, Punch Graphix designs, develops and delivers mid to high-end imaging systems for offset prepress commercial and newspaper markets. With a clear-minded focus on R&D, Punch Graphix is solely dedicated to customer satisfaction and aims to deliver cost-effective graphic excellence that goes beyond all expectations. Punch Graphix is listed on Euronext Amsterdam by NYSE Euronext (PGX). Website: www.punchgraphix.com