April 23, 2003 -- dotrix n.v, the Belgian manufacturer of digital color workflow solutions for industrial printing has strengthened its international market presence by appointing two Value Added Resellers in China: Shanghai Ziyang Graphic Technologies Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Sigitech Science & Technology Co., Ltd. Ziyang is responsible for sales and service of dotrix’s market-leading prepress application software for the decorative printing market, ARABESQUE MC and MOSAIC, and Sigitech distributes SECUPASS - a highly adaptable personalization software tool for design and production - incorporating SECUMARK, to enhance the security of a document's variable elements. “The Chinese decorative and security printing markets face a lot of challenges, including the costs associated with production of high quality cylinders for decorative printing and the availability of integrated solutions to minimise fraud and counterfeiting," says Rob Haak, dotrix's managing director. “Ziyang and Sigitech are extremely familiar with the challenges and issues affecting the markets and this makes them excellent partners in China. We’re delighted to have them on board and look forward to the partnership extending in the future with the possibility of the.factory joining the companies’ product portfolio.” Ziyang’s competence in color management and knowledge of the printing and converting industries is the result of close partnerships with companies such as GretagMacbeth, bestcolor, Tetra Pak and Shanghai Institute of Printing Technology, since Ziyang’s establishment four years ago. Says Frank Mo, managing director of Ziyang: “We’re excited and proud to become part of dotrix’s network. ARABESQUE MC and MOSAIC are cleverly designed, cost-effective digital solutions meeting consumers’ increasingly demanding expectations of the decorative print market. We’re confident that the products will be just as successful in China as in Europe.” ARABESQUE MC is a software tool designed for decorative applications, separating RGB or CMYK input images to the specific colours that will be used for production. In conjunction with the.factory, dotrix’s digital inkjet color press, it becomes INSPIRATION, a complete digital workflow solution for short run sample printing and variable information, designed to print continuously changing images on wallpapers, laminates, floor coverings and other decorative materials. Established in Shanghai, Sigitech has five years experience in the security market and in-depth knowledge of the packaging and printing industries through its joint venture with a label printing machine manufacturer. James Yu Guanlin, manager of Sigitech and former Barco employee, comments: “Recent reports have indicated that one in five university ID cards are forged in China, thus clearly emphasising the need for effective methods to protect documents. dotrix’s SECUPASS is easy to operate and not only conforms to China’s security needs but is also able to deal with variable information and personalization.” SECUPASS is a flexible and powerful tool for the creation of highly secure documents, such as ID cards and travel documents. Due to the open structure of the solution, printers are able to develop unique set-ups that are closely tuned to the specific needs of any application. Adds Mr Yu Guanlin: “The easy integration of security and personalized features to the printing process make SECUPASS a profitable solution that minimises the possibility of fraud and criminal action after the product has been printed. There’s no doubt that this matches the requirements of China’s market perfectly.”