May 20, 2003 -- Rochester, N.Y. — Heidelberg has been recognized for technological innovation in its portfolio of Digimaster print systems, with additional patents granted this year by the U.S. Patent Office. Heidelberg’s Digital Print Solution Center has been awarded 17 new patents to date in 2003 for its digital, high-volume black-and-white print systems. These new patents add to the more than 40 patents the company has already received for its Digimaster product line and the more than 200 U.S. patent applications that are currently pending. Additionally, Heidelberg holds a number of patents on its Digimaster family accessories and software solutions. "Heidelberg has a rich heritage of industry-leading achievement in new technologies that drive innovative solutions for our customers," said Wolfgang Pfizenmaier, president of Heidelberg’s Digital Print Solution Center. "The patents that we continue to receive for our digital print systems build on that tradition, and we are committed to continually developing state-of-the-art technologies that meet the needs of print businesses worldwide." Digimaster print systems — including the Digimaster 9110 system, Digimaster 9110m machine for MICR printing and Digimaster 9150i system — are developed and manufactured by Heidelberg’s Digital Print Solution Center, and they are available to customers worldwide through Heidelberg Market Centers. Most systems are also available through Danka and in OEM versions through business partners Canon and IBM. Outstanding Results The quality of Heidelberg’s research and development activities depends heavily on the performance of its employees in this area — a total number of 2,666 employees worldwide — who are all recognized specialists in their field. During the financial year, they once more demonstrated Heidelberg's potential for innovation. Including the patent operations from the NexPress joint venture, Heidelberg registered a total of over 400 new patents. Heidelberg has now filed a total of approximately 5,000 patent applications and holds 5,556 patents worldwide — a direct result of the close cooperation between teams of engineers and technicians at the Solution Centers with Heidelberg’s intellectual property experts.