ASHEVILLE, NC, April 16, 2002 – Printable Technologies (www.printable.com), the leading online software provider for the graphic arts industry, and the Technical Association of the Graphic Arts (TAGA) (www.taga.org) today announced the launch of PrintPlanet's TAGAPressOps Forum ([email protected]), a new, technical forum connecting both press owners and operators with researchers and developers from both the commercial and academic communities. While the TAGAPressOps Forum was initiated on behalf of TAGA members, the organization is opening the forum to all qualified industry professionals. Dave Mainwaring, General Manager of PrintPlanet and Jim Harvey, Director of Program Development for TAGA, will be co-moderators of the Forum. TAGA President Bruce Blom, who also is Manager, Paper & Graphics Education at MeadWestvaco Corporation, noted, "TAGA has been working to bring new services to its membership, and our launch of the TAGAPressOps Forum in partnership with PrintPlanet is the result of our survey of TAGA members regarding prospective online forum topics. Without question, press operations/ink and paper interactions emerged as their number one topic of interest, and the TAGA forum gives them a vital new platform for the interchange of technical information, ideas and operational experience." The TAGAPressOps Forum may explore a wide range of technical topics including: - Paper and ink interactions - Press characterization and operations studies - Press design and innovation - Pressroom automation and CIM - Press optimization and troubleshooting - Press operation and quality control To assure its value as an independent and open forum for all members, the introduction of any sales and marketing efforts will be closely monitored and strongly discouraged. In addition to the launch of the PrintPlanet TAGAPressOps Forum, other major new TAGA membership services include the recent introduction of the Journal of Graphic Technology, the industry's first peer-reviewed scientific journal, and the TAGA online International Student Resume Service. Chuck Gehman, Executive Vice President and CTO of Printable, observes, "We are very excited to have this opportunity to partner with TAGA to launch this important new technical forum for the industry. Together, we have carefully structured the TAGAPressOps Forum to enable industry professionals to access an extraordinary resource to tap into the spectrum of knowledge and insights of peers worldwide for solutions and opportunities. With this new web and email discussion forum, TAGA continues to provide the leadership that has been its hallmark in the industry." Qualified industry professionals and academics are invited to register for membership in the PrintPlanet TAGAPressOps Forum at: www.printplanet.com, click on e-communities and then select TAGAPressOps.