Hitachi Koki Imaging Solutions Launches DDP Micropress Production Print On-Demand System At COMDEX ‘99

15 November, 1999

Nov 15, 1999 10:05 AM

--Breakthrough Price/Performance Solution for Print On-Demand Market--

Simi Valley, Calif., www.hitachi-hkis.com, November 15, 1999–Hitachi Koki Imaging Solutions, Inc. (HiKIS), one of the world’s leading providers of digital printers and a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE: HIT), has announced the launch of a major on-demand digital document production solution called the DDP (Digital Document Publishing) MicroPress®.

With ground-breaking output speed and versatility, the new DDP MicroPress features powerful job management utilities and cluster printing capabilities for high volume digital document production. The efficient cluster printing approach produces output at peak-volume print speeds of up to 840 pages per minute, and at an affordable price point-- both firsts for the industry.

The new DDP MicroPress system is based on the production printing capabilities of Hitachi’s workhorse DDP 70 network printer and utilizes the award-winning MicroPress technology from T/R Systems, Inc. This represents the first in a series of cluster printing solutions for the Print On-Demand market resulting from the collaboration between Hitachi Koki Imaging Solutions and T/R Systems.

According to Stramaglio, the new DDP MicroPress offers users incredible performance at a new low price point. "The DDP MicroPress is the most versatile, productive and cost-effective POD solution in the market today," Stramaglio stated, "This breakthrough price/performance opens up new document publishing opportunities for operations from corporate department and in-plant production printing, to quick-printers, commercial printers and facilities managers."

Features of the DDP MicroPress Cluster Printing Solution

The DDP MicroPress is a short-run, on-demand digital printing system designed for high volume production printing of black and white and color documents. Driven by the ClusterServer from T/R Systems, the document production capabilities of the DDP MicroPress are well-suited for fast-turnaround printing and finishing of documents such as sales and marketing collateral, personalized and variable data direct mail, training manuals, product documentation and on-demand book publishing.

DDP MicroPress features:

• Extremely high output at speeds up to 840 ppm
• Network-connectivity for electronic job submission and proofing (distribute and print)
• High versatility to respond to each job’s unique production requirements
• A range of Hitachi print engines from 70 ppm to 24 ppm, for greater system configuration flexibility, including the DDP 70, DDP 62, DDC 62n and DDP 24
• Complete document finishing capabilities
• Built-in redundancy virtually eliminating downtime
• Document management and on-demand reprints
• Modular and scalable design to grow with needs of business
• Affordable price point

"The power and sheer productivity of the Hitachi DDP MicroPress make it the most impressive new solution to hit the Print On-Demand marketplace in a very long time," said Stramaglio, "It’s the first production POD system that is within reach of the vast majority of customers who have previously had to rely on very expensive outsourcing, or investment in capital-intensive options." "I am certain that the new DDP MicroPress is exactly what the Print On-Demand market has been waiting for," Stramaglio concluded, "And I’m delighted to announce that it’s Hitachi who has made it happen."

About Hitachi Koki Imaging Solutions, Inc.

Founded in 1962, Hitachi Koki Imaging Solutions, Inc. (HiKIS) is recognized worldwide for its innovations in printing solutions. HiKIS is a subsidiary of Hitachi Koki Co. Ltd., one of the world’s most advanced print engine manufacturers, and part of the $64 billion Hitachi Group of companies.

The HiKIS/Hitachi Koki team combines world-class print engines, print controllers, software technology and imaging supplies to make it a global leader in the development and manufacturing of the most powerful, yet easy-to-use digital network printers.

Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the world’s leading global electronics companies with fiscal 1998 (ended March 31, 1999) consolidated sales of 7,977 billion yen ($65 billion*). The company manufactures and markets a wide range of products, including computers, semiconductors, consumer products, and power and industrial equipment.

For more information on Hitachi, Ltd., please visit Hitachi’s Web site at http://www.hitachi.co.jp.

For additional information regarding Hitachi Koki Imaging Solutions, Inc, and the new DDP MicroPress, please contact Bill Melo, Vice President Worldwide Marketing for Hitachi Koki Imaging Solutions, at 1757 Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley, CA 93063; Phone 805.578.4371; Fax 805.578.4004; email: bmelo@hitachi-hkis.com, or visit the Hitachi Koki Imaging Solutions web site at www.hitachi-hkis.com.

*At an exchange rate of 121 yen to the dollar.

MicroPress is a registered trademark of T/R Systems Inc.