Indigo And Kammann Announce Digital Disc-Printing System Sets New Quality Standards for CD, Dvd And CD-ROM Industry

MAASTRICHT, the Netherlands, Feb 7, 2000 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Indigo (Nasdaq: INDG) and Werner Kammann Maschinenfabrik, Germany, today jointly announced the Indigo-Kammann K15 Digital Press, a full-color, offset-quality, digital printing press for CDs, CD-ROMs, and DVDs. Combining Indigo's Digital Offset Color printing technology and Kammann's unique disc processing capabilities, the K15 Digital produces superb quality discs in all mainstream disc formats including audio CDs, CD-ROMs and DVDs.

      The K15 Digital is not only the world's first digital offset color printing press for CDs, it is also the highest quality disc printing system and prints up to 6000 four-color discs per hour -- the highest speed range in the CD industry.

      With hundreds of conventional screen printing machines and many offset machines for CD printing installed worldwide, Kammann is the leader in the CD industry. The Indigo-Kammann K15 Digital comprises an Indigo-manufactured Digital Offset Color printing press and a Kammann-manufactured disc handling, processing and inspection system. Kammann will manufacture the integrated K15 Digital printing system at its Buende facility, in Germany. Kammann will market the K15 Digital worldwide, with Indigo providing global customer service and consumables supplies.

      "Kammann is dedicated to cooperate with its customers in new printing solutions that allow them to compete in the high-quality, cost-sensitive, quick-response disc market," said Wilfried Kammann, President and CEO of Kammann. "The Indigo-Kammann K15 Digital is the first digital printing system that can compete cost-effectively for especially short run jobs -- and in excellent quality."

      Benny Landa, Chairman and CEO of Indigo said, "The K15 Digital is the result of a perfect marriage: Kammann's world-class, field-proven expertise in disc handling, printing and production systems and Indigo's high quality Digital Offset Color printing technology. Together, we bring to the industry unprecedented quality, economics and digital production capabilities. This is a partnership on which we expect to build successful businesses - in the disc market and beyond."

      Digital disc printing offers many advantages over other processes. Unlike conventional printing, the Indigo-Kammann K15 Digital does not require films, plates or press setup. Disc design and personalization data can come directly from any computer. Proofing is simply a run length of one, done on the same press using the same inks as the production run. And because it is digital, with no plates to change, every disc can be uniquely created, or even personalised.

      "As the process eliminates films, plates, press set up and off-line proofing, the Indigo-Kammann K15 Digital is perfectly suited to meet the industry's ever-increasing need for short runs and on-demand production. Since the K15 Digital produces true offset quality, it can be used for repeat orders of jobs that were originally offset printed on Kammann 15.40 offset presses -- with identical image appearance. Therefore the 15.40 offset presses and the K15 Digital form a complimentary base to meet all customers expectations." Wilfried Kammann said.

      More than 7 billion discs are produced annually worldwide, with an increasing trend towards process color and, most significantly, shorter run lengths. In fact, today, the average run length of a CD production job is already less than 1500 discs. But though the industry has been moving towards quicker response times and Just-In-Time manufacturing methods, current CD printing processes have remained mechanical -- so they are labor- and materials-intensive.

      "Indigo's digital printing technology enables smooth switching between jobs - with virtually no set-up time. Most labor-intensive activities are eliminated. The K15 Digital directly addresses the high quality requirements of the disc industry. DVD, for example, is a fast growing premium format that demands strong graphics, very high quality printing and accurate brand identity reproduction. The K15 Digital prints with Indigo's ElectroInk at 800 dpi resolution in four colors," Mr. Kammann said.

      The Indigo-Kammann K15 Digital will be demonstrated in Drupa, at both the Indigo and Kammann booths. Held just once every five years, DRUPA is the largest trade event in the commercial printing and graphic arts industry. Some half a million visitors are expected to attend the exhibition in Dusseldorf, Germany, May 18-31, 2000.

      About Indigo at Drupa Indigo will be exhibiting two dozen of its Digital Offset Color presses at its Hall 4 stand that spans some 1700 square meters (18,000 square feet). It will feature a 300-seat theatre in which some 20,000 visitors are expected to participate in Indigo's "Fasten Your Seatbelt" presentation -- a look ahead at digital printing in the New Millennium.