ROCHESTER, NY—January 28, 2008—PODi, the Digital Printing Initiative, today announced the release of the second PPML Interoperability Report. PPML (the Personalized Print Markup Language) facilitates creating personalized high-volume print campaigns by service providers, enabling meaningful one-to-one “conversations” for their customers. This new report provides detailed results of interoperability testing across the products of ten leading printing device vendors using PODi’s PPML Consumer Test Suite. The report provides the marketplace with a valuable resource for developing and implementing PPML-based workflows that will perform reliably across multiple brands of printing devices. Test results demonstrate the high level of interest and cooperation among vendors in pursuit
Ricoh Corp.
HOUSTON—InfoPrint Solutions, a joint venture between IBM and Ricoh, has sold its first InfoPrint 5000 continuous-form, ink-jet printing system in the United States to Personix, a business unit of Fiserv Inc., based here. Personix will use the system to produce full-color transactional statements. It services the health care, telecommnications, investment services and retail markets.
BOULDER, CO—January 22, 2008—InfoPrint Solutions Co., a joint venture between IBM and Ricoh, today announced that Personix, a business unit of Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV) and a leading provider of information technology services to the financial industry, has purchased the InfoPrint 5000 to produce full color statements. Personix selected the InfoPrint 5000 as a result of their in-depth assessment of production full color alternatives in the market. “Our selection of the InfoPrint 5000 is primarily about creating value, opportunity and growth for our clients,” said Personix president Jorge Diaz. “Our selection process made clear that this platform represents a giant leap forward in
January 15, 2008—Global printing manufacturer Ricoh, predicts that the production printing market will grow to €12.8 billion by 20131. It is Ricoh’s vision to expand its presence in this market and become a leading force by 2010. Drupa 2008 is the platform for Ricoh to introduce the Ricoh Pro C900 and C900s a new colour digital printer and multi-function device offering heavy production capacity. Also launching is the Ricoh ‘Pro’ brand, for easy identification of its production printer portfolio. Ricoh demonstrates a history of innovation within the printing market. During the last four years it has further extended its
HP Makes Deal for NUR PALO ALTO, CA—Hewlett-Packard Co. has agreed to buy Israel-based NUR Macroprinters, which produces wide-format digital ink-jet printers, for $117.5 million. The deal, pending regulatory approval, will expand HP’s graphic arts portfolio of digital presses and wide-format printers. HP also acquired MacDermid ColorSpan last year. Domtar Reduces Capacity MONTREAL—Domtar will close its Port Edwards, WI, mill and reorganize production at its Dryden, Ontario, facility. The Port Edwards move, which is expected to take place in the second quarter of this year, will cost 500 employees their jobs. At Dryden, one paper machine and two sheeters will be closed, impacting
WEST CALDWELL, NJ—Some executive changes are taking place at Ricoh Americas, where Norihisa Goto will slide into the role of chairman and CEO. Goto will also continue to serve as president and CEO of Ricoh U.S.Susumu Ichioka, incumbent chairman and CEO of Ricoh Americas, will assume a significant position with its Tokyo-based parent, Ricoh Co.
HP Empowers With Print 2.0 NEW YORK—On the 52nd floor of 7 World Trade Center, more than 700 guests and 100 Hewlett-Packard employees spent two days enjoying a room with a (magnificent!) view. The event was part of HP’s rollout of the “Print 2.0: Extending the Power of Print” strategy and provided a launching pad for a new $300 million, worldwide marketing campaign—“What do you have to say?” With New York City as a backdrop, the main attractions, however, were inside where HP staged an “Experience Center.” It resembled a Hollywood set complete with a faux bedroom, living room, home office, business office, retail
Graph Expo 2007 visitors can see NEXPRESS systems running at Kodak booth 1246 and Ricoh booth 3046 CHICAGO—September 9—Kodak and Ricoh Americas Corporation announced at Graph Expo 2007 a U.S. reseller agreement under which Ricoh will offer four KODAK NEXPRESS Digital Production Color Presses to its customers in the in-plant, data center and graphic arts market “NEXPRESS Digital Production Color Presses give Ricoh customers a proven, high end production color solution that compliments our office and light production color products,” said Carl Joachim, Vice President, Marketing, Ricoh’s Production Printing Business Group. “The combination makes perfect sense, combining Ricoh’s strength in the office market with
As the countdown to the world’s largest printing exposition begins, Messe Düsseldorf Chairman Werner Dornscheidt provides his thoughts on what visitors should expect for Drupa 2008. There are already indications that Drupa 2008 will surpass the record-breaking Drupa event back in 2000. In what respects? WERNER DORNSCHEIDT: Drupa’s history goes back over 50 years, but it has become clear that Drupa 2008 will be the largest yet. The exhibition grounds are totally booked up, with some 170,000 square meters of show space and 1,800 exhibitors. There isn’t even one square meter of space left in the newly built Hall 8b, next to Hall 8a
Here’s an exclusive, PRE-SHOW PREVIEW showcasing new products submitted by many of the exhibitors that will be displaying their wares next month in Chicago. Colter & Peterson will showcase the BASA 3, which features an automatic jogging system that can automatically form layers of printed sheets, align them accurately and transport them to the subsequent cutting process. The BASA 3 is appropriate for paper from 16-lb. bond to 125-lb. tag, and is effective when combined with a modern, rear-table-feeding system. Existing gripper transport systems can be retrofitted. Visit www.piworld.com/infocenter: enter #377 MBO America will introduce the Super KTZ, featuring a knife-folding unit that
