IPEX 2006, Birmingham, UK (April 4, 2006) – Creo Print On-Demand Solutions (PODS) Group announces the new IC-304 Print Controller for the KONICA MINOLTA BIZHUB PRO C6500 colour production print system. This robust print controller offers Konica Minolta customers advanced features for high-quality image control, ease-of-use and productivity. The Creo Print On-Demand Solutions Group is an independent unit of Kodak's Graphic Communications Group. “We enhanced all the successful elements of a professional print controller for the new BIZHUB PRO C6500 and sharpened them for the high speed and quality required by Konica Minolta graphic arts customers,” said Uri Keren, Director, Creo Print On-Demand Solutions Group. “With Konica Minolta we continue to develop solutions that give their customers the ability to print everything from simple jobs to sophisticated professional print jobs.” “We at Konica Minolta are pleased with the way our new strategic partnership with Creo PODS has been developing,” said Achim Ricks, Business Development Manager, Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe. “In addition to the obvious competence in the areas of product engineering and design, we are impressed with the active support provided to our local sales organizations to ensure the best possible understanding and implementation of these high-performance controllers. With the IC-304, we look forward to utilising the power and flexibility of the CREO PODS controllers in our new generation of production colour systems.” Featuring Speed, Quality Colour and Variable Data Printing The IC-304 print controller supports KONICA MINOLTA BIZHUB PRO C6500 colour production printing device and retains its ease of use for high-quality colour and variable data printing (VDP). This print controller is ideal for commercial printers who want a user-friendly controller that features the wealth of graphic arts knowledge of the Creo Print On-Demand Solutions group. For digital print providers with a dual workflow, the IC-304 print controller uses JDF for seamless connectivity between offset and digital printing. The new print controller will fully support all finishers of the BIZHUB PRO C6500. The new IC-304 print controller leverages powerful digital print technology to create a workflow solution that features extremely fast RIP speeds with maximum flexibility and efficiency. The IC-304 print controller features extensive document printing capabilities, comprehensive workflow and colour management tools. The combination of Creo PODS professional colour knowledge and the new BIZHUB PRO C6500 printing system provides Konica Minolta's customers the ability to produce vibrant images. For personalised printing, the IC-304 print controller leverages CREO PODS comprehensive VDP solution, which processes complex variable data documents at the same speed as a static print job and offers on-the-fly previews and colour correction. Because the IC-304 print controller supports popular authoring tools and all leading industry print formats, users can easily create and output full-colour, personalised documents including postcards, coupons, direct mailers, variable data statements, marketing collateral or any other customised job. See Creo PODS at the Konica Minolta stand B41, hall 4, from April 4-11, 2006.