BOSTON -- April 3, 2003 -- Creo Inc. is marking the installation of its 5000th computer-to-plate (CTP) device with celebrations worldwide and the introduction of a several important performance upgrades, including some of the fastest machines in the industry. 5000th Milestone Highlights Industry Evolution... At the end of 2002, industry sources estimated that approximately 13,500 CTP units were installed worldwide - over 40 times more than in 1995. Of these, about 36 percent are Creo systems - more than twice the estimated market share of any other vendor. To celebrate the installation of its 5000th CTP system, Creo is thanking customers and partners at events from Barcelona and Paris to Tokyo, Shanghai and Sydney between January and July 2003. Background Information... Creo was nearly unknown in the graphic arts marketplace when it introduced the industry's first commercial thermal CTP system in 1995. Today, Creo offers the three top-selling CTP product lines in the world (Trendsetter, Lotem and Trendsetter VLF), as well as the two leading workflow systems (Brisque and Prinergy), and has installed 10 times more very large-format CTP systems than any other vendor. More importantly, Creo customers are among the most successful printing businesses around the globe. Creo reaching this 5000th milestone shows the growing adoption of complete digital solutions -including CTP -is being driven by the pressure to remain competitive under increasingly demanding market conditions. Today's digital CTP solutions link creative and production systems, content management, Internet systems and more. Creo is driving this evolution through its Networked Graphic Production(tm) vision (more at www.creo.com/ngp). Enhanced Performance for 8-up CTP... Creo continues to deliver exciting new benefits to the entire line of imaging devices with significant performance enhancements on the new Lotem 800 II Quantum, Lotem 800 II, Trendsetter 800 II Quantum, and Trendsetter 800 II thermal CTP systems. In addition to fine-tuning reliability and improving upgradeability on these popular systems, Creo now offers the fastest thermal CTP in the industry. Lotem devices image 29 plates per hour, and the Trendsetter devices, 30 plates per hour (34 plates per hour when equipped with Autoloader). The new type II CTP systems are available today and perform from 10 to 67 percent faster than previous models. Creo thermal CTP devices are available in a range of speeds, offering performance levels and features, suitable for virtually any size and type of prepress operation. Creo Type II devices can be upgraded to the higher speeds or to the 'Quantum' set of superior imaging features that includes the SQUAREspot thermal imaging head for predictable and consistent imaging and advanced process control, Staccato screening, and automatic temperature compensation. The fastest thermal CTP in the world!... The new Creo Type II CTP systems produce more plates per hour (pph) than ever before: -- Trendsetter 800 Il (S Speed): 15 pph (was 9 pph) or 60% faster; -- Trendsetter 800 Il Quantum (S Speed): 16 pph with autoloader (was 10 pph) or 67% faster; -- Trendsetter 800 Il Quantum (F Speed): 22 pph (was 16 pph) or 38% faster; -- Trendsetter 800 Il Quantum (F Speed): 24 pph with autoloader (was 17 pph) or 41% faster; -- Trendsetter 800 Il Quantum (V Speed): 30 pph (was 27 pph) or 11% faster; -- Trendsetter 800 Il Quantum (V Speed): 34 pph with autoloader (was 31 pph) or 10% faster; -- Lotem 800 II (S Speed): 15 pph with autoloader (was 10 pph) or 50% faster; -- Lotem 800 II Quantum (F Speed): 22 pph with autoloader (was 16 pph) or 38% faster; -- Lotem 800 II Quantum (V Speed): 29 pph with autoloader (was 25 pph) or 16% faster; -- Lotem 800 (S Speed): 10 pph with autoloader (No change); -- Lotem 800 (F Speed): 16 pph autoloader (No change);