Mortsel, Belgium - 9 October 2001 - Agfa issued a statement that it is renewing its contract with Strobbe Graphics, the company that manufactures the Agfa Polaris platesetter. To that end Agfa and Strobbe Graphics signed a memorandum of understanding on August 30th outlining the key agreements of the new long-term contract. These include the continued development and enhancements of the Polaris platesetter product range. The Polaris, which was designed for Agfa by Strobbe Graphics to meet the specific needs of newspaper producers, is a key component of the company's strategy to offer a full range of solutions for newspaper printers. The Polaris platesetters are computer-to-plate systems, which allow printers to image offset printing plates directly from digital data, shortening the production process and improving a.o. print image quality. Over 350 Polaris systems are installed worldwide. They are successfully operating with newspaper printers thanks to their high productivity, reliability and accuracy. Last month Agfa announced its intention to acquire Autologic Information International. The Thousand Oaks, California-based company designs, manufactures and markets computer-based prepress systems for the publishing industry. "Autologic hardware and software products complement the current Agfa assortment. AII systems will continue to be sold next to the Polaris family, they will expand our product line," said Marc Elsermans, general manager of Agfa's Graphic Systems business group. "We are committed to providing the best range of solutions to accommodate the individual needs of every printer, publisher, or prepress service provider, large and small." About Strobbe Graphics. Strobbe Graphics NV, based in Ypres, Belgium has been a long-time partner with Agfa in the manufacture of products for prepress production. Strobbe Graphics has been a pioneer in the development and manufacturing of state-of-the-art solutions that automate plate production and printing processes. Strobbe Graphics NV is a member of the Punch International Group, a leading supplier of integrated manufacturing solutions ranging from product and process engineering to the delivery of finished products.