KENNESAW, Ga., Oct. 8, 2003 — Heidelberg USA reported a successful Graph Expo/Converting Expo 2003, recording favorable sales and lead generation across all sectors, including enhancements to existing product lines and new product introductions. “Our success at this show is a clear indication that more and more printers are interested in new presses and solutions that will help make their companies more efficient and profitable,” said Niels M. Winther, president of Heidelberg USA. “We are hopeful that the momentum from Graph Expo will continue. The industry is more energized than prior to the Chicago trade show.” During Graph Expo, the printing industry’s largest tradeshow in North America, Heidelberg featured a 42,000-square-foot exhibit space, including 10 presses, finishing equipment and a variety of informative product demonstrations and technology solutions. The anchor of the show was the Prinect "Connect/Create" presentation and a Computer Integrated Manufacturing workflow tour in Heidelberg's main theater. Throughout Graph Expo, Heidelberg reported strong attendance in the booth and at product demonstration areas. “Higher customer confidence was most encouraging at this year’s Graph Expo,” Winther said. “We observed that as the industry seems to take a favorable turn, printers have become more eager to invest.” Must-See Solutions Before the show even began, Heidelberg was honored by the Graphic Arts Show Company and Print Outlook with several “Must See” awards. Known as the “Must See ‘Ems” and "Worth a Look" awards, they are granted each year to the products, services, and booth demonstrations that showgoers should see. Following are the Heidelberg products and solutions honored this year: The Heidelberg booth Prinect Prinect Printready Remote Service NexPress 2100 NexStation II Speedmaster SM 52D Supercolor Sunday 3000 Delivering The CIM Message Computer Integrated Manufacturing was the talk of Graph Expo and Heidelberg’s significant new business venture with Electronics For Imaging (Nasdaq: EFII) and Printcafe (Nasdaq: PCAF) lead the discussion. On the first day of the show, the three companies announced they plan to collaborate on integrating Printcafe print management software (ERP) to Heidelberg presses through open JDF connections as specified by the CIP4 organization. The partnership complements Heidelberg’s Prinect portfolio, which offers complete workflow solutions based on open JDF standards to achieve a computer integrated manufacturing business model. In addition to the agreement with EFI and Printcafe, Heidelberg’s main presentation and easy-to-understand “workflow tour” demonstrated how the truly open architecture of its Prinect family of workflow products can help printers run more efficient businesses. Strong interest and leads were gained during a “Workflow Tour” of Heidelberg’s JDF-based Prinect System, which includes products such as Prinect Printready, Prinance, Signastation and MetaDimension. “Graph Expo allowed us to clearly and easily demonstrate how Prinect works and how printers can become more competitive with a workflow system that seamlessly integrates production and business management processes from beginning to end,” said James Mauro, product manager, Prinect. “The presentation really resonated with our customers. We proved just how comprehensive the Prinect line is and that Heidelberg is delivering a fully integrated workflow system based on open standards that spans across all areas of their business.” Prepress Hits New Milestone Heidelberg reached a significant prepress milestone during the show: the 200th U.S. sale of its Prosetter violet CtP device. It was just one year ago, during Graph Expo 2002, that Heidelberg had sold its 100th Prosetter. The Prosetter offers high-performance violet technology, simple plate handling, small space requirements and the potential to upgrade to full automation. It also provides cost-effective CtP production. New Offset Presses Draw Attention Heidelberg logged the first U.S. sales and as well as strong leads for two new offset presses: the Printmaster PM 52 and the Speedmaster SM 52-D with die cutting. Visitors witnessed firsthand how the PM 52 represents the ideal route to growth for small and midsize businesses and how the SM 52-D, shown for the first time in the U.S. at the show, offers in-line die-cutting and finishing steps that can be done in one pass. Both presses that were on display were sold during the show. The Speedmaster CD 102, the flagship of Heidelberg’s sheetfed fleet, was also a popular press. The company produced 20,000 copies of a commemorative poster honoring the rededication of Soldier Field on the CD 102. Solid Digital Sales In digital, Heidelberg proved its competence as a major player in both the black-and-white and color digital production markets. Numerous orders were taken for company’s new Digimaster 9110cp for commercial printers and the company’s Nexpress 2100 digital color production press. Heidelberg continually demonstrated live variable data jobs on the show floor. New configurations for Nexpress also gained high interest. Web Showcased New Sunday 3000 Heidelberg’s Web division reported strong sales and leads. High attendance and interest was reported for the demonstration of the new Sunday 3000, the world's first single-circumference web press to offer the advantage of an eight-pages-across cylinder configuration. A Strong Finish: Global Debut for Speedbander 603 New finishing equipment was highlighted at Graph Expo. The Speedbander 603 high-speed banding system made its global debut and the Dymatrix die-cutting system, formerly the Jagenberg WPM 304, was on display for the first time under the Heidelberg name. Continuing to gain rave reviews was the ST 400 saddlestitcher, a 2003 GATF award winner. Heidelberg’s postpress division, which logged strong sales and leads during the show, also sold the Dymatrix system and Speedbander 603 that were on display. Remote Service Impresses Show A Must See ‘Em recipient, Heidelberg’s Remote Service program impressed show organizers, customers and other visitors to the Heidelberg booth. The program delivers an electronic diagnosis of Speedmaster presses equipped with the CP2000 Center as well as the ImageControl System without a visit from a technician. The service, which results in increased machine availability, fewer on-site service calls and lower costs, is so successful that more than 70 percent of service calls can be resolved through remote diagnostics and without a service technician ever visiting the site.