STERLING, Va. and ROCHESTER, N.Y., March 19, 2003 -- Copy General, the Washington, D.C.-area’s largest independent chain of print shops, has purchased a Xerox DocuColor iGen3 Digital Production Press to expand its color production business from about 10 percent of total revenue today to 50 percent in 2004. The industry-leading press will also help to boost the average number of color pages Copy General prints monthly to 500,000, up from 150,000 in 2002. "We see digital color as the single major source of growth for our business," said Ken Chaletzky, president, Copy General. "The unparalleled print quality, durability, speed and variable data capabilities of the iGen3 allow us to better compete with offset and offer a host of new services to our customers, allowing them to be more effective and get a better return on their investment." Digital Provides Speed, Quality Savvy printers like Copy General have discovered that digital printing excels at tasks not possible with offset such as short runs, quick job turnarounds and personalization while providing outstanding print quality. Copy General plans to leverage the iGen3’s unmatched speed of 100 pages-per-minute, its cost effectiveness and its print quality that duplicate the traditional look and feel of offset, to expand not only its print volume but also its breadth of offerings. The shop, which currently produces digital full-color marketing pieces, calendars, and brochures, plans to expand offerings to include short-run color textbooks, technical documentation for user manuals and highly personalized variable information pieces. Xerox Consultants Accelerate Learning To help Copy General learn to take full take advantage of the iGen3’s capabilities, build volume and identify revenue-generating opportunities, Xerox deployed one of its SmartPress Production Consultants to work on-site with Copy General. According to Chaletzky, the SmartPress Production Consultant is the smartest thing Xerox did to launch the iGen3. "Our overriding objective is to help our customers develop their businesses," said Frank D. Steenburgh, senior vice president and general manager, Xerox Production Color Business. "The iGen3 offers a wealth of opportunities for customers to profit and grow by providing services that offer significant value to customers. The Xerox SmartPress Consultants help ensure that our customers take full advantage of the iGen3’s many benefits and get off to a fast start." Copy General has four locations in the Washington, D.C. area and has been a Xerox customer for nearly 25 years. Its production facility in Sterling, Va. houses the iGen3 as well as a Xerox DocuColor 2060 Digital Color Press, and Xerox DocuTech 135 and 6180 Production Publishers. During the PrintImage International annual conference for the quick and small commercial print industry this past March, Copy General was awarded first place in the "Digital Press/Copier-Toner Based" category for a book, 100 Years of Great Horror Movies, it printed on the iGen3. Copy General was one of the first companies of its kind to go totally xerographic. Starting in 1979 with analog copiers, the company now operates one of the most modern all-digital, all-xerographic printing plants in the country. In order to fulfill the promise of print-on-demand, Copy General complements its printing capabilities with full-featured bindery, mailing and fulfillment divisions. In 1990, through several joint ventures, there are now 30 Copy General locations in seven countries on three continents employing about 500 people.