Itasca, IL - Xeikon, an innovator in digital color printing technology, announced today that it has entered into partnerships with two leading industry organizations to offer objective and unbiased business development and business assessment/ROI services and tools to label printers in North America.

Xeikon America, Inc. has partnered with a recognized industry expert, InfoTrends, to provide on-site workshops to new label customers in North America who are interested in utilizing this service. These customized workshops are designed to offer insights and market strategies on how label printers can capitalize on digital printing opportunities. In addition, the workshops will include a thorough review of their business, marketing and promotional strategies as well as messaging and positioning.

Furthermore, Xeikon America, Inc. has separately established a partnership with Karstedt Partners, LLC to provide consulting and custom decision-making ROI tools to interested North American label printers. These value-added services will help printers evaluate their digital printing options and understand the true differences in technology and how those translate into cost, print quality and converting considerations.

"We are excited to offer business development services from InfoTrends and Karstedt Partners to label printers. Our aim behind forging these neutral, third-party partnerships with two leading industry organizations is to enable label printers to invest in the right digital solution and fully capitalize on the potential of digital printing once they have made the investment," said Michael V. Ring, president of Xeikon America Inc.

InfoTrends is the leading worldwide market research and strategic consulting firm for the digital imaging industry. In partnership with Xeikon America, Inc., InfoTrends will develop a customized, one-day workshop for new Xeikon customers in North America who are interested in utilizing this service. The workshop will include the following activities:

- An overview of industry trends and objectives that align with the client's business plan;
- An evaluation of the tag and label market opportunity;
- A review of business and marketing strategies to attack the opportunity;
- A review of promotional strategies for reaching the target tag and label market;
- A discussion and evaluation of marketing and selling tactics, including messaging and positioning.

The InfoTrends team will provide clients with a written summary of the workshop and recommendations on how they can build a tag and label business.

Karstedt Partners is the leading source of development, deployment, and strategic positioning information on digital printing to the packaging supply chain. Xeikon America, Inc. will offer Karstedt Partners' Commercialization Assessment Report (CARs) to interested label printers in North America. In addition to the CARs Report, the printers will also receive an interactive "Investment Value Assessment Tool (iVAT-TM)" spreadsheet which will assist them in determining the overall ROI and cost analysis of their digital investment decision. Karstedt Partners will also provide each printer a personal consultation and review meeting to address and answer any questions they may have regarding the report and the analysis tools.