Adamov, Czech Republic; October 26, 2006 – ADAST a.s., one of the world’s leading manufacturers of multicolor offset printing presses, today announced that response to its exhibitor participation at Graph Expo 2006 exceeded the company’s expectations. A stream of attendees and customers to the ADAST booth (#3046) showed positive response, which included ADAST receiving a pending order for the Model 757 5-color press it demonstrated live on the show floor. Graph Expo, the largest printing trade show in North America, was held at McCormick Place in Chicago, October 15-18, 2006. Attendees and customers responded enthusiastically to the ADAST “Automation Affordable” feature set, which the company combines with CIP3/CIP4 compatibility and perfecting options to offer quality offset presses for short-run multicolor work at affordable prices. The Automation Affordable feature set includes: - Semi-automatic plate changers with Bacher registration that accept metal or polyester plates straight from CTP to press; - ADAST CIP3/CIP4-compatible AdaControl computerized inking console; - Automatic blanket washers, each allowing different combinations of solvent, water and cycle to match printing conditions; and - Automatic ink roller wash-up with auto-spray to disperse ink wash-fluid. This strong reliance on automation promotes fast make-readies and overall productivity, enabling ADAST customers to compete aggressively in the market for quality offset color, at run lengths from 500 to 5,000 impressions. “The market for print is being squeezed by shorter press runs and fierce competition for fewer jobs. As printers’ markets and margins have shrunk, most press manufacturers have chased the larger printers at the higher end of the market, leaving smaller and medium-sized shops with the choice of financing a prohibitively expensive new machine or settling for used equipment,” asserted ADAST general director Radek Dudas. “With our Automation Affordable presses, smaller shops can buy a new machine that produces the short-run 4- and 5-color work the market demands and at the level of quality every printer needs to make money and grow their business.” ADAST builds three distinct product lines, all with Automation Affordable plus optional easy-changeover perfecting and in-line aqueous coating. These product lines include: - ADAST 507 Series: 15 x 20-inch, 2-up format available in two-, four- and five-color configurations; - ADAST 707 Series: 19-1/2 x 26-inch, 4-up format available in four- and five-color models; - ADAST 807 Series: 20.5 x 29-inch, 4-up B2 format available in two-, four, five- and six-color configurations. Special ADAST accessories (including an in-line aqueous coater equipped with hot and cold air knives, IR dryer and circulator) increase productivity, speed turnaround time and extend the scope of jobs that can be printed on an ADAST press -- and in a single pass. At Graph Expo, ADAST demonstrated a five-color model 757 with in-line coater performing a full make-ready including sub-30-second semi-automatic plate loading, setting of the ink, striking register and matching to CTP CIP3 output via the ADAST AdaControl computerized inking console. The plates were imaged at 2540 dpi on a HighWater Python CTP system equipped with violet laser technology. Ink profiles were preset, connecting the CTP CIP3 output to the AdaControl console. ADAST 507, 707 and 807-Series presses are manufactured under rigorous ISO 9001:2000 certification and also comply with the FOGRA International standard for excellence in print quality and exactness of manufacturing. ADAST presses also are certified by the Testing and Certification Centre for printing presses in Wiesbaden, Germany, with the prestigious GS certification. ADAST presses are sold and serviced in North America by ADAST Factory-Direct Dealers. In the U.S., the Eastern Region is supported by United Graphic Systems, Inc., Englewood, NJ; the Midwest Region is supported by CEU, Inc. Chicago, IL; and the Western Region is supported by Universal Graphic Products, Inc., Arvada, CO. In Canada, ADAST presses are sold and serviced by AdasTotal Services Inc., Toronto. ADAST is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of multicolor offset printing presses to the international graphic arts market, with nearly 40,000 ADAST 4-up presses contributing to the company’s nearly 76,000 presses manufactured and installed worldwide. The ADAST commitment to delivering high-quality multicolor offset presses at affordable prices enables savvy printers to compete aggressively in the market for quality offset color at run lengths from 500 impressions. More information about ADAST is available at www.adast.com