Kern debuts MailFactory© suite of
Automated Document Factory software modules

Columbus, OH, October 25, 2003 (Xplor Booth 1037) ? Kern International, provider of the world?s fastest inserting system, the Kern 3000, will debut MailFactory©, a comprehensive suite of web-enabled Automated Document Factory software tools to manage document production, verify document accuracy and easily interface with other workflow systems in an ADF.

"MailFactory© is designed to give our customers a robust, configurable and open platform to manage the inserting production demands of complex automated document factories", says Steve Watters, General Manager for Kern. "We believe the open and extensible MailFactory© centralized SQL database and web-enabled modules built with state-of-the-art development tools not only provide total control over a Kern-centric equipment environment, but also simplify interfacing with other ADF and workflow applications the customer may require. The result is to give customers unparalleled access to the information most important to them in an ADF solution tailored to their unique needs."

• MailFactory© is comprised of modular components, configurable to customer-specific combinations to address the enterprise?s requirements.
• MailFactory Manager© is the link between your host and MailFactory©; it collects and exchanges information for job scheduling, production and monitoring of connected devices or processes.
• MailFactory Document Control© communicates unique mail piece finishing instructions to inserters and updates the processing disposition; the result is a robust audit confirming mail piece integrity. MailFactory Media Control© makes possible complete component ID control at the job or mail piece level.
• MailFactory Output Control© enables printing on closed face envelopes and other customer-unique post processing requirements.
• MailFactory Validation© is a module incorporating cameras for customers whose requirements include extraordinary burden of proof of mailing redundant to the core Kern inserting technology.
• MailFactory Workplace© allows for repairing, reprinting or manual handling of individual mail pieces under database control. Also, MailFactory Workplace© accounts for ?hand-processed? jobs in the MailFactory© environment.
• MailFactory Reporter© provides access to inserter, operator, job, mail piece and mail recovery data. Both pre-defined and user-defined reports are available.
• MailFactory Manifest Reporter© integrates manifest mailing reports into MailFactory©, maintaining maximum postage discounts and producing USPS required reports. MailFactory Postal Control© performs the postage accounting tasks within MailFactory©.

About Kern International
Kern International is the US subsidiary of Kern AG, founded in Konolfingen Switzerland in 1947. The company is a leading provider of world-class inserters, pre and post processing systems and open ADF solutions. Kern has a long history of innovation and technical excellence, and today we offer the world's fastest inserter as well as open and modular ADF solutions and innovative pre and post processing technologies. For more information about Kern International visit www.kerninc.com.

Contacts
Jeffrey Sutton
(504) 288-6202
jsutton@kerninc.com