CHICAGO--Sept. 28, 2003-- Heidelberg USA, Electronics For Imaging and Printcafe today announced plans to collaborate on integrating Printcafe print management software (ERP) to Heidelberg presses through open JDF connections as specified by the CIP4 organization. Heidelberg USA also announced plans to begin referring mid- to large-size printers to Printcafe's Hagen OA product where it fits their customers' needs in the North American market. Heidelberg will continue to offer Prinance as a fully integrated Prinect system for small- to mid-size printers. The collaboration will complement Heidelberg's Prinect portfolio, which offers complete workflow solutions based on open JDF standards, to achieve a computer integrated manufacturing business model. "Heidelberg is committed to offering greater productivity to our customers, and further opening Prinect CIM technology through accepted industry standards such as JDF," said Niels M. Winther, president, Heidelberg USA. "We fully support the CIP4 organization and are proud to work with EFI and Printcafe to extend our Prinect print management offerings through JDF-enabled connectivity. Creating an optimum production environment requires high quality equipment matched with an efficient method of planning, utilization and collecting actual machine data." "Today's announcement continues our series of announcements related to JDF and expands the EFI relationship with Heidelberg USA to deliver the industry's most productive, efficient and open print management systems," said EFI President/COO Fred Rosenzweig. "Heidelberg and Printcafe have made computer integrated manufacturing (CIM), based on accepted standards, their mission in the marketplace. We are proud they have chosen to work closely with us and EFI on this initiative," said Marc Olin, CEO of Printcafe. "We are committed to rapidly integrating with Heidelberg workflow solutions and presses using the JDF open standard so printers can quickly benefit from better control and automation of their business and production processes."