CHICAGO, IL -- For real estate, it is all about location. For business, it's customers. Curt Kreisler and his Gold Star Printers operation have both in North Miami Beach. But when it came time for them to add a direct-to-plate system, they relied on industry research. The answer was conclusive. The A.B.Dick DPM2340 is ample proof why it is the small format leader, and even stronger when one adds the ScanMaster digital scanning solution. "It truly is a seamless system. It works very well and has exceeded our expectations," said Kreisler, who began working in the industry while attending college in south Florida in 1979 and later bought Gold Star in 1988. "I expected us to be using dual systems with both metal and polyester plates when we first installed it. But there was no learning curve. It was much smoother than I expected and everything the report said it would be." The "report" in this case was a PrintImage International Direct-to-Plate study which rated the DPM2340 extremely high in the small to mid-size format category. Over 2,000 Digital PlateMaster systems have been installed since the DPM line was launched five years ago. Many serve as the catalyst for shops looking to take their work to the next level and be profitable. The DPM2340 does that and more for people like Kreisler, a self-described quick printer with 11 employees and sales approaching the $2 million level. "We looked at other systems but when the PrintImage study came out, we made our decision based on how high the ratings were for the DPM2340," said Kreisler, who will serve as PrintImage president for 2002. "What impressed us was 99 percent of DPM buyers saying they would do it again. That was a strong testimonial." The DPM2340 allows Kreisler the opportunity to do more high-level work and triggers more incentives. Gold Star does offset and desktop work and binding and mailing services for a significant number of south Florida customers. Quality is an absolute given as they do highly visual work for image-conscious banks, a large restaurant chain and several pari-mutuel facilities, among others. Kreisler also has noticed improvements that impact the bottom line. "Our quality has always been strong but I think it is better because the quality of the plate is better," said Kreisler, who uses about 800 of A.B.Dick's 8 mil MegaPro poly plates a month. "The screens stay open and look sharper. It's hard to put a number to it but our production levels have improved, too. Having the ScanMaster system brings added value. A de-screening process with the ability to input and print pre-printed materials on demand, ScanMaster helps the DPM2340 move work through the printing process faster and more reliably and reduces the cost per job. Kreisler also uses three A.B.Dick 9810XCS presses for his two-color and up work, and a pair of A.B.Dick 360 offset presses for one-color jobs. "ScanMaster makes it one comprehensive system. Everything is combined and there is continuity to our workflow. We haven't had any down time or glitches. It's what everyone looks for and hopes to find in a direct-to-plate device," said Kreisler. A.B.Dick Company is a leading worldwide supplier to the graphic arts and printing industry, manufacturing and marketing equipment and supplies for all stages of document creation -- prepress, press and post-press -- as well as continuing service and support. For more information contact Scott MacKenzie, Vice President, Marketing, 7400 Caldwell Ave., Niles, IL. 60714. Telephone (847) 779-1900, fax (847) 647-6940, Web: www.abdick.com.