HUDSON, N.H., July 26 -- Presstek, Inc., a leading manufacturer and marketer of environmentally responsible high tech digital imaging solutions for the graphic arts and laser imaging markets, today announced that the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF) has honored Presstek with a 2004 GATF InterTech Technology Award recognizing Presstek's innovative Applause process-free thermal printing plate. Presstek's Applause is the sixth Presstek development to earn the prestigious distinction from GATF. Presstek has also been the proud recipient of GATF's InterTech Technology Awards for its Direct Imaging (DI), ProFire Imaging, Dimension CTP Systems, as well as its Anthem thermal plates. The Graphic Arts Technical Foundation has sponsored the InterTech Technology Awards as a service to the graphic communications industry since 1978. The award's mission is "to honor excellence in innovative technology for the graphic communications industry." In fulfilling this mission, the InterTech Awards focus attention on trends and technologies that, over the next five years, are expected to have a major impact on the quality of products printers manufacture for their customers, on the speed at which printers can produce their products, and on the profitability, services, capabilities, and markets the technologies can bring to printers. "The GATF 2004 InterTech Award is a considerable honor and recognition of Presstek's innovation in the graphic arts. It is a valuable confirmation of our technological direction and the strength of Presstek's R&D team," said Edward J. Marino, Presstek's President and Chief Executive Officer. Presstek's Vice President of Research & Development Eugene Langlais said, "This award reinforces our commitment to the continued delivery of significant digital imaging and plate technologies to meet the needs of our users and partners. Process-free plates represent a natural evolution in CTP platemaking by streamlining operations, reducing costs and improving environmental impact. We are delighted that GATF has recognized Applause -- it's a Smarter Way to Print." GATF President George H. Ryan said, "Historically, the recipient technologies have indicated significant trends and have predicted a major technological impact on industry production and profitability." According to a GATF 2004 InterTech Award judge, "Users of the Applause no- process digital printing plate consistently mentioned excellent press performance and print results along with significant savings in platemaking operations. Besides eliminating multiple plate processing steps, the technology also eliminates all cost centers associated with purchasing, storing, using, and disposing of chemistry." Another judge said, "You can see the innovation in this truly processless plate." GATF sponsors the Award and coordinates the Award process, but does not select recipients. InterTech Technology Award recipients are chosen by an anonymous judging committee comprised of practicing industry experts and professionals who are independent of PIA/GATF. Companies are not required to be GATF/PIA members in order to submit technologies for judging. Presstek Customers Speak About Applause Denny Curry, Gemini Printing & Office Supply, Florida In a nomination letter to the GATF InterTech judging committee, Presstek customer Denny Curry, Owner of Gemini Printing & Office Supply of Marathon, FL, said of Applause: "With my 41 years experience of dealing with offset processes, (Applause) rates as an infinite advancement in the offset field. In addition to excellent press performance and print results, we are realizing significant savings in our plate making operation due to the elimination of plate developing chemistry. Print performance has been excellent, and make- ready times have been reduced by 37%. Having completely eliminated plate processing and all associated materials and steps, I can not imagine going back to traditional plate making." Chris Edwards, Infinity Press, California In his nomination letter Chris Edwards of Infinity Press, San Carlos, CA, stated that in addition to excellent press performance and print results, the company is realizing significant savings in its plate making operation due to the elimination of plate developing chemistry. "Print performance has been excellent. We routinely achieve fast roll-up and very good color stability through the press run. I can not imagine going back to traditional plate making," Edwards said. Gene D. Scott, Pony X Press Printing, Ohio Additionally, Gene D. Scott, president of Pony X Press Printing Services, Reynoldsburg, OH offered testimony based on his experience in using Presstek's Applause since August 2003. Scott said, "Our monthly savings on developing chemistry is over $3,000 since switching to Applause. At the same time, we have realized a significant improvement in the environmental impact of our operations. We have not only eliminated costs of purchasing and maintaining developing chemistry, we also no longer have to dispose of it. Citing excellent print performance, Scott said, "We have successfully printed with a number of different ink and fountain combinations with Applause. We routinely achieve fast roll-up and excellent color stability through the press run. The Applause plate performs better that any other plate we have ever used." GATF Award Presentation The GATF InterTech Technology Awards will be presented to the 2004 recipients at an Industry Awards Dinner on November 13, 2004 at the Ritz- Carleton Buckhead, in Atlanta, Georgia. The InterTech Awards Annual showcasing all of the current year's nominated technologies will be available at Graph Expo, which is being held October 10- 13, 2004 in Chicago, Illinois.