May 7, 2003 -- Enhancing its profile and commitment to the US market, Xaar plc, a leading inkjet printhead manufacturer, has acquired Texas-based Vivid Print Innovations TM, Inc. Vivid Print Innovations (VPI), brings Xaar an established integration team with a strong reputation for designing digital inkjet printing solutions for a wide variety of packaging, speciality graphics and industrial uses. The investment will offer Xaar customers a unique ‘one-stop shop’ where they can work with the VPI team to develop bespoke or prototype printing systems from scratch using Xaar’s printheads. VPI will retain its name but will be badged ‘The Applications Division of Xaar’. The new applications division will enhance Xaar’s US operation, offering customers a complete printing design, integration and build service, providing advice throughout all phases of product development from initial concept to finished product. The service will be key for brand-owners with specific packaging printing requirements, established inkjet machine manufacturers looking to develop prototypes, or organisations looking to move into the digital print arena. In addition, VPI will compliment Xaar’s already established European Integration & Consulting Program which was set up in 2002 with key industry partners, including SunJet, TTP (The Technology Partnership) and Yminds, to support companies interested in developing and integrating Xaar’s digital printing solutions into their existing operations. Jan Fineman, chief executive at Xaar comments, “The investment in Xaar’s new applications division is fundamental in addressing our customer needs. We have identified a gap in the digital printing market where there is currently a gulf between inkjet printhead manufacturers such as ourselves and brand owners who need a bespoke printer - there are few companies in between who can actually build these machines and Xaar is the first printhead manufacturer to offer such a service 'in-house'. We have already gone some way to bridging this gap with the introduction of our independent Integration & Consulting Program and we believe that bringing the talents of Vivid Print Innovations into Xaar will give us the ability to work with customers directly to develop tailored solutions. In addition, the experience and breath of knowledge brought to Xaar by the VPI team is crucial in reaffirming Xaar’s commitment to the US market.” VPI was founded in 2001 by a team of digital printing experts keen to develop state-of-the-art inkjet printers for a wide variety of uses. The company offers Xaar a wealth of experience across a variety of markets, having designed printing solutions for the grand/wide format, packaging, labelling, screen, offset, textiles, flexo and industrial printing markets. Commenting on the acquisition, William Leach, president of Vivid Print Innovations says, “The majority of the solutions developed and brought to market by VPI to-date have been based on Xaar technology. The merger of our integration capabilities with Xaar’s technological standing will bring a very powerful systems design and integration offering to the market.” Xaar’s Integration & Consulting Program will continue to run alongside Vivid Print Innovations, offering customers a choice between in-house and external integration services.