July 26, 2005 – Appenzell, Switzerland and Boston, MA – GMC Software AG—the leading global provider of open standards document design, composition and production solutions for the service bureau, commercial print, finance, insurance, utility and telecom industries—will debut their recently released PrintNet Connect Web Services software suite at Booth # 6336 during PRINT ’05 at Chicago’s McCormick Place, from September 9 through 15. GMC staff will be on hand to demonstrate how PrintNet Connect provides a powerful, seamless, fully integrated solution for Web-based application integration. Organizations managing myriad documents, records and other information across disparate platforms and systems can now bring them all into the production process, regardless of their source. 

About PrintNet Connect

PrintNet Connect software is an innovative solution for the seamless production of both printed and electronic documents for businesses that are implementing a Web Services strategy. Companies that implement a Web Services strategy can maximize the benefits of standards-based enterprise computing, document production and both internal and external communications. By implementing Web Services applications into processes such as high-volume document production workflow—using PrintNet Connect—organizations can easily and quickly respond to new business opportunities.

According to Rene Mueller, CEO of GMC Software AG, “PrintNet Connect enables a robust Web-based document production system that can lead to improved communication and faster, more cost-effective production processes. Both enterprises and commercial operations achieve higher efficiency through process automation, job consolidation and better asset utilization.  As more organizations establish Web Services environments, PrintNet Connect fills the important role of making seamless document production available on a Web Services platform.”

Integrated print and web presentment from a Single Platform

PrintNet Connect works in concert with GMC PrintNet T software to drive multiple document-related applications from a single platform. Unlike some other Web applications, PrintNet users do not need separate platforms for Web and print based documents, variable data or statement processing and presentment. The PrintNet T platform encompasses all of the resources to compose and drive production of both printed and electronic documents and statements. There is no need to buy separate products for print versus web applications. Since work is driven from one central application, users don’t need to understand the platform or application behind it, yet they can leverage its power for greater productivity.

When PrintNet Connect is integrated into a corporate production environment, users can generate everything they need without having to call on IT resources. Branch offices and agents have easy, immediate access to document generation and production tools for greater efficiency and better customer service. Since the PrintNet application is transparent to users, it does not require any special skills and can be accessed via a Web browser; and its capabilities extend to all levels of users in geographically dispersed locations.

Benefits for Corporations and service bureaus alike

Both corporate enterprises and commercial service bureaus benefit from the convenience of Web-based communication provided by PrintNet Connect-enabled Web Services. Enterprises and commercial operations can use their existing infrastructure and processes in more efficient and more productive ways, while providing an attractive alternative to manual operations. Aside from the advantage of being available to users possessing minimal technical skills, features such as automated template calling and background processing significantly improve consistency, while giving users more flexibility to do their jobs.

Using PrintNet Connect, service bureaus can offer more convenience and value to customers through Web-based workflow. Corporations can develop tools such as direct mail or letter templates and use Web Services to make these tools available for their customers for the creation of customized materials. With PrintNet Connect, a typical user can have the ability to use a subset of PrintNet T from a Web page.  From a user’s perspective, it’s simply a matter of making a request and receiving an answer—the behind-the-process functionality of PrintNet T is transparent. Even IT personnel don’t require PrintNet experience because once set up, the process works automatically. 

Through PrintNet Connect Web Services, users can access the full functionality of PrintNet T, including previewing a PDF, image, or HTML file. The software can define a workflow to perform functions such as automatically sending a proof to the user, and it can balance loads automatically to ensure that jobs submitted are sent to the best available resource. PrintNet Connect enables remote calling of the PrintNet T server, which in turn activates any number of actions and processes related to document production. Communication is defined in terms of XML request / response messages; and XML messages can be received through a SOAP protocol via http request or via J2EE environments such as IBM WebSphere Message One, BEA Weblogic and Microsoft.NET.

Service bureaus can now embrace small accounts that previously would not have been economically feasible. Handling these customers via a Web page template provides commercial operations with a new revenue stream that doesn’t drain margins. Small jobs can be commingled for better postal rates, and the service bureau does not tie up staff with smaller, less profitable jobs. The result is a more streamlined, user-friendly and profitable document production environment, while enhancing overall customer satisfaction for all enterprise related communications.

About GMC Software AG

New products, workflow tools, support programs bolster broadest range of digital offerings for printing industry

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Aug. 30, 2005 – Xerox Corporation (NYSE: XRX) will demonstrate the profit-building power of its latest high-end printing technology, along with new workflow tools that streamline the printing process and support programs that help grow print volume and revenue, in the largest display of all-digital technology at Print 05. 

At the trade show, which starts next week and is held every four years in North America as the printing industry’s largest international event, Xerox will showcase the industry’s broadest range of digital offerings and feature more than 50 high-speed color and black-and-white printing products — including the Xerox iGen3^®, DocuColor^®, Phaser^®, Xerox Nuvera™, DocuTech^® and DocuPrint^® families.  Xerox will also highlight an expanded portfolio of workflow tools that streamline the process that print shops use to produce jobs such as digital books, personalized color catalogs and manuals.

“Digital printing is continuing to gain print industry market share at an accelerated rate, creating new applications and taking revenue from offset,” said Bill Lamparter, president, PrintCom Consulting Group.  “With the company’s current line and with new offerings, Xerox will demonstrate a comprehensive digital presence at the show in terms of overall size and scope.”

Attendees visiting Xerox’s 35,000-square-foot, two-story booth will learn about the company’s latest product and workflow announcements and see how Xerox is creating new business opportunities that impact their bottom line. From a second-floor catwalk, visitors can view how a print job is produced from prepress, through the printing process, to a professionally finished piece. 

“For more than two decades, Xerox has revolutionized the digital production printing industry — and we will continue to lead at Print 05,” said Quincy Allen, president, Xerox Production Systems Group.  “We’re not just showing the latest digital printing technology. We are also giving customers the information they need to implement the technology to grow their businesses and increase profits.” 

The Xerox booth will be divided into seven zones that address critical topics for commercial printers, quick printers and in-plant print shops. The seven zones are: 

---Print on Demand – Print on demand automates the production process, reduces turnaround time and eliminates inventory costs by providing the flexibility to print jobs only when they are needed.  For example, print providers can quickly produce marketing brochures in short runs as products, services and special offers change.
---Personalizing for Profit – Visitors will learn how to create effective personalized direct-marketing campaigns using customized communications that increase response rates.  Using Xerox digital printing systems, workflow software and integrated finishing options, customers can create full-color, professional materials, including brochures, invoices and signage that target a specific audience with the most relevant marketing information and improve the return on their marketing investments.  The zone will also highlight how Xerox digital printing systems and automated workflow solutions are helping transactional printers merge information from various databases to create effective billing and marketing pieces in one document.
---Book Solutions – Print providers can generate new revenue streams by offering digital book publishing, and the booth will feature continuous-feed printers and monochrome and color presses producing books and color covers.   Also at Print 05, Xerox will announce the winner of its “Aspiring Authors” contest at an event featuring Xerox Chairman and CEO Anne Mulcahy; Bob Young, founder of LuLu.com, a provider of print-on-demand books; and Maureen Corrigan, book reviewer for National Public Radio’s “Fresh Air.”  The contest attracted hundreds of applicants nationwide, and the winning author will receive $5,000 and 100 copies of his or her book.

---Offset and Digital Integration – Xerox experts will be available to work with customers on an individual basis, showing them how to build their businesses by integrating their current offset production workflow with Xerox digital workflows using FreeFlow™ software. Xerox continues to automate production printing processes to make it easier for printers to add digital printing to their operations while leveraging their existing technology.
---Agency and Design Services – Attendees will learn how to improve their printed communications from creation to production and see the advantages of digital printing, including image quality that is comparable to offset and the benefits of adding personalization.  The area will feature products and insight from industry partners such as Adobe, Creo, EFI, Pantone, Scanvec Amiable, XMPie and the Parsons School of Design.
---Wide Format Solutions – Many print providers are adding wide-format printing equipment as a new revenue source, expanding the applications they can offer to their customers including posters, architectural drawings and outside signage.  The zone will show how color and black-and-white wide-format printers successfully work in conjunction with narrow-format equipment, capitalizing on increasing convergence in the print industry.
---ProfitAccelerator™ Resources – The zone features support programs that help customers maximize digital technology investments through the use of sales, marketing, finance and production tools. For example, customers can use a financial modeling program to help them justify the purchase of digital production equipment by showing which applications are most profitable.

ProfitAccelerator Theater  

In the booth’s “ProfitAccelerator Theater,” industry experts will present a wide range of topics. Session titles include: 

---“Making money in digital print: I did it, and so can you,” presented by Roger Gimbel, president, Roger P. Gimbel & Associates.
---“Planning for profits: Focus on the bottom line,” presented by Frank Kanonik, president, DigitalPrintInfo.

---“Hiring and managing a high-performance sales team,” presented by Joseph Rickard, president, IntellectiveSolutions.

---“Partnering for success: The creative alliance,” presented by Roy Zucca, adjunct professor, Parsons School of Design and principal, CertiFyle.

---“Building relationships: your key to long-term success,” presented by Peter Muir, president, Bizucate Inc.

The hour-long programs run daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4:40 p.m., and Xerox will hold a drawing for an Apple iPod after each session.

Customer Awards Showcase

The winning applications of the Printing Innovation with Xerox Imaging Awards, which recognize excellence in digital printing, will be on display in the PIXI Gallery in the booth. The awards highlight innovative personalized materials, short-run color materials, monochrome materials, digital books and manuals. They also recognize the partnerships between the clients, creative professionals and printers who are involved in producing these high-value applications.

GREENWICH, CT, August 22, 2005 – Martin Maloney, executive director of The Print Council, a business development initiative dedicated to promote the greater use of print media, today announced that an all-star team of top executives from the printing and imaging industries' leading companies will staff The Print Council's information booth (#6041) during Print '05.

The executives will be on hand at The Print Council booth on a rotating basis, meeting visitors throughout Print 05 to provide information about the organization and its role in advancing the use of print media.

"The industry leaders who have volunteered to staff The Print Council booth make Booth #6041 a must-see stop for everyone during Print 05," said Mr. Maloney. "We invite visitors to come by for a unique opportunity to chat with them and get their personal insights about The Print Council and learn why they regard membership in the organization and support of its activities important for the future of print media."

Member companies volunteering to staff The Print Council booth on a rotating basis include top manufacturers Agfa, IBM, Kodak, Komori, MAN Roland, Sun Chemical, and Xerox. Printing company members Sandy Alexander and United Litho will also participate, as will industry associations NAPL and PIA/GATF. Major industry publications such as American Printer, Graphic Arts Monthly, and Printing Impressions have also volunteered.

Space for The Print Council Print 05 booth was donated to the organization by the Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC).

About The Print Council