PARAMUS, NJ -- September 4, 2002 -- The 2002 edition of Budgeted Hourly Cost Studies on Digital Prepress Operations, released this month by the National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL) contains hourly cost rates, specifications, and prices for nearly 250 prepress devices, covering 18 different equipment categories. A new bonus software section provides descriptions, prices, and system requirements for 65+ software titles used in prepress.  Calculating exact hourly cost rates is vital for profitability in the graphic arts industry, and yields important data for equipment acquisitions. The new Blue Book provides rate information for cost comparisons and gives detailed equipment descriptions, specifications, base price, and costs of commonly added equipment for each device. The perfect vehicle for getting hourly rates under control or comparing equipment running costs under specific operating conditions, the book is based on a Spring-Summer 2002 survey of equipment manufacturers and other sources, and has been compiled and tested for accuracy by NAPL expert cost study analysts.  The 304 page book shows how hourly cost rates are constructed, and how they differ for various equipment configurations, one-to-three shift operations, and different productivity levels. Easy-to-follow instructions explain how to adjust the rates, in minutes, for actual investment costs and employee wages. Labor and equipment hourly cost rates are calculated on separate pages to allow the user to add the hourly cost rates for labor and equipment in any combination. For example, if a cost center contains a workstation, a scanner, and an imagesetter, the user would simply add the rates of the two devices and the rate of the operator.  Though the book lists for $199.95, one copy is mailed FREE to all NAPL corporate members as a membership benefit. NAPL individual professional members may purchase the Blue Book for $149.95. Corporate and individual members may purchase additional copies at $35 each. To order, call NAPL at (800) 642-6275, and press Option 3; fax (201) 634-0328; email [email protected]; or order on NAPL’s website, www.napl.org. For fax, Web, or e-mail orders, mention NAPL Product Code NB-111. EQUIPMENT DATA SHEET NAPL 2002 Budgeted Hourly Cost Study on Digital Prepress Operations Categories Represented: Conventional Equipment: -Film Processors -Color Proofers -Platemakers -Plate Processors -Step & Repeat Systems -Inspection/Registration Devices  Digital Equipment: -Digital Cameras -Digital Color Proofing -Color Flatbed Scanners -Color Drum Scanners -Film Scanners -Computer Platforms -Workstations and Workflow Systems -Typographic Front Ends -Paper Output Devices -Imagesetters & Film Recorders -Computer to Plate (CTP) Systems -Digital Servers, Libraries, Data Storage Software - Preflight - OPI - Server - Layout & Design - PDF Conversion - Imposition - Stripping - RIPing - Trapping - Page Assembly - Image Editing - Print Management - Workflow Manufacturers Represented: A.B. Dick Adobe Agfa Corp. Amergraph Corp. Apple Computer Cortron Corp. CreoScitex Dynagram Software Enfocus Software Escher-Grad Technologies Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. Global Graphics Software Heidelberg Prepress Howtek, Inc. IBM Just Normlicht Kodak Polychrome Graphics Lantana LogEtronics Corp., Div. AFP Imaging MacDermid Graphic Arts MegaVision Miles 33 International Minolta Mitsubishi Imaging Mohr Enterprise/Vastech Distr. Monotype Systems Nikon Electronic Imaging NuArc Company, An M&R Co. Olympus Polaroid Graphics Imaging Presstek, Inc. Printcafe Systems Printware Quark RealTimeImage Registrip Pin Register Systems Roconex Corp. ScenicSoft Screen (USA) Sinar Bron Imaging Sony Strobbe Sun Microsystems Tally Printer Ternes Register System Ultimate Technographics Xanté Xitron New Product Summary: The NAPL Budgeted Hourly Cost Studies on Digital Prepress Operations, 2002 edition, contains hourly cost rates, specifications, and prices for almost 250 prepress devices, covering 18 different categories of equipment. An improved format lets companies mix and match hourly rates for labor and multiple devices to build hourly rates for exact user-defined cost centers. A bonus software section provides descriptions, prices, and system requirements for 65+ prepress software titles. 304 pages. List price: $199.95. NAPL Professional Track Members: $35.NAPL Corporate Members: First copy free; additional copies, $35 each. About NAPL: Chartered in 1933, NAPL is the industry leader in cost control, providing periodicals, books, seminars, training materials, special reports, audio and video presentations, special publications, and on-site consultants.  New offerings, such as ProfitXL and CS InterACT software, live webcasts by leading experts, and a multitude of online resources, carry out the Association’s ongoing mission: “To prepare the printing community to profit from change.”