NEW YORK -- April 23, 2002 -- Oce Printing Systems USA, a leader in digital document management and delivery technology, brings the market greater finishing flexibility with a new offline version of the award-winning DigiStitcher saddle stitcher. Already the market's fastest saddle stitcher, the offline DigiStitcher increases workflow performance and versatility for booklets, manuals, guides and similar applications. The DigiStitcher joins other advanced finishing tools like the AmigoDigital Binder from Muller Martini to provide Oce customers with a complete selection of finishing capabilities for diverse convergent applications. Convergent applications create opportunities for commercial publishers and transactional data centers to add valuable new revenue streams, but the ability to use the same print resources for a variety of applications is essential. Versatile Oce finishing equipment complements the functionality of the new Oce DemandStream 8090cx convergent printer to create a more productive, efficient workflow for all kinds of applications. Many types of output are possible on a single system by simply changing the finishing components. From one basic footprint, operations can accommodate perfect binding with the AmigoDigital or high-speed saddle stitching with the Oce DigiStitcher. In the live document environment set up in Oce Booth 1300 at the ON DEMAND show, visitors can witness how convergence-driven operations maximize productivity Some jobs printed on the Oce DemandStream 8090cx will go directly to the AmigoDigital inline binder. Other output will be held in offset stacks for the offline Oce DigiStitcher to simulate work ready for "second shift" handling. The ability to manage workflow in this way ensures users get maximum productivity from the Oce DemandStream 8090cx, while accommodating a variety of job opportunities. Offline DigiStitcher Extends Production Flexibility "Convergence forces operations to do more with less, and with the offline DigiStitcher, shops get more flexibility in the way they choose to use printer resources and production capacity. They can print booklets on one shift and finish them later without sacrificing productivity or the integrity of customized applications," said Guy Broadhurst, director of product marketing for Oce Printing Systems USA. Oce customers with highly demanding requirements have already benefited from the performance and flexibility of the Oce DigiStitcher. "We can quickly switch between different types of paper, and the equipment offers a wider range of throughput that allows us to meet the demands of our various customers," said Axel Kruse, vice president of on demand services at Bertelsmann. "Together we combine to deliver the best solutions." The offline DigiStitcher is ideal for operations that do not want to completely dedicate printers to finishing devices, yet must still maintain high productivity standards. The device is not limited by print engine speed and can even process faster than some print systems, and the offline operation ensures compatibility even with slower devices. The DigiStitcher now handles four sheets per second, with the capacity for eight sheets per second available in the spring of 2002. The offline DigiStitcher retains the intelligent automation of its inline counterpart, including the use of barcodes to track and control workflow. Engineered for flexibility, the system offers three different cutting and stacking options for customer unique demands. Unlike some inline devices, the offline DigiStitcher never requires a sheet rotator to accept job input, and cut stack delivery allows it to interface to other offline devices like collator towers for more flexibility and timesaving automation. At ON DEMAND, Oce will demonstrate typical 8.5"x11" booklet applications printed on the DemandStream 8090cx system from 11"x17" web-fed stock, folded, then finished using the offline DigiStitcher. One booklet application will include a preprinted cover, and the other will demonstrate variable data. AmigoDigital Binder Maximizes Throughput In convergent environments, there are also applications that require high-speed inline finishing, and for these Oce has teamed with "best in class" provider, Muller Martini. Together, the two companies offer the highest throughput for inline perfect binding. The AmigoDigital binder is rated for 1000 books per hour, allowing plenty of capacity for even the fastest Oce printers. Easy changeovers accommodate tight production schedules, and when the Oce printer is required for other jobs, the AmigoDigital can be quickly decoupled to allow maximum utilization of the print system. When jobs involve highly repetitive tasks like printing and binding multiple copies of the same book, inline solutions like the AmigoDigital binder are often preferred to maximize manpower and equipment utilization. The AmigoDigital perfect binder eliminates costly breaks in publishing workflow, while maintaining output consistency and quality. The advanced finishing automation helps companies reduce publishing overhead, labor and inventory, and opens the door for increased business from perfect bound jobs requiring personalization and fast turnaround. "At Oce’s ON DEMAND exhibit, we’ll show printers that they don’t have to sacrifice quality for speed or for digital versatility," said Andrew J. Fetherman, manager of Muller Martini’s Digital Finishing Division. "The AmigoDigital will let them know that how a book is manufactured is every bit as important as how it is printed." In Booth 1300 at ON DEMAND, an AmigoDigital perfect binding system will integrate with the Oce DemandStream 8090cx convergent printing system and Hunkeler paper handling equipment. Hunkeler developed the critical interface between their standard cutter and the AmigoDigital binder, and the configuration provides great flexibility for handling documents of varying thickness. The fully integrated technology ensures that systems run at rated speed and deliver consistently high quality output. The result is a streamlined workflow that will produce commercial quality paperback books in a single pass.