Milton Keynes, England, June 22, 2001 - KBA Digital Press and httprint announced that they are to collaborate on a major new project commencing with two 74 Karat beta sites which will be used as the basis for a new online digital printing concept. The 74 Karat presses will be crucial to the project in bringing together a number of technological developments, meeting KBA and httprint's aim of creating a better, more practical way of dealing with customers' printing requirements. httprint, using it's eCommerce front-end and colour management modules tailored to KBA's requirements will deliver an integrated internet based workflow, for a faster and more efficient print management process. Within httprint's solution several major software and hardware providers take an active role. Gretag Macbeth will supply high integrity colour management with Markzware responsible for pre-flight checking and Bestcolor supplying the Rip solution. Barry Hibbert, European Managing Director of httprint, is excited about the opportunities the project offers. He says "With the rapid development of digital workflow technologies many of the ways we work in the printing industry will have to change. This project demonstrates that the httprint solution is a way to help manage this change." KBA Digital Press of Germany is establishing two 74Karat beta sites, one in Essen and the other in Hannover. Ralf Sammeck, sales director of KBA Digital Press is enthusiastic about the project and says "We believe this eCommerce project will demonstrate how the 74Karat's ability to provide high quality offset printing over a wide range of substrates will make it an important part of future press investment plans." The KBA 74Karat represents the latest technology with its waterless printing and online plate imaging features. It's highly sophisticated networking ability is ideal for this project in linking httprint's tailored front-end eCommerce solution and colour management technology to deliver an integrated and comprehensive workflow for the future. It is anticipated that successful operations at Essen and Hannover will lead to further operational sites across Europe including the UK. The system will be demonstrated at Print 01 in Chicago in September.