ITASCA, IL, July 9, 2008 - Xeikon, a division of Punch Graphix, pioneers of the first digital color presses, announced today that an assembly of customers, prospects and industry experts will gather at Xeikon headquarters for a focused review of the most pressing drupa topics and demonstration of Xeikon's latest innovations. During the summit, attendees will explore issues such as the impact of new image quality parameters on digital printing and interactive workshops lead by top Xeikon experts.

The event will occur on two separate days - July 10 and 14. By paring down the agenda to the most pressing topics, the summit offers an interactive atmosphere and in-depth look at the latest digital color technology advancements. The event will include a talk by industry luminary, Noel Ward, who will highlight the most recent trends in digital printing including major growth areas/segments and provide a review of new technology introductions at drupa 2008. There will also be a focused presentation on the importance of 1200 dpi for the future of production printing.

One of the main attractions of the event will be the live demonstration of the latest Xeikon products, including the Xeikon 8000 and the Xeikon 6000. The Xeikon 8000 plays in a league of its own by setting a new reference for speed and quality in digital printing. With a speed of 56 feet per minute (= 244 letter-size pages per minute), the Xeikon 8000 is twice as fast as its nearest competitor. In addition, the Xeikon 8000 and the Xeikon 6000's high-precision LED-based imaging heads feature true 1200 dpi resolution and 1200 x 3600 dpi addressability with variable dot density (4 bits per spot), generating extraordinary image quality with sharp and crisp details, high definition, and smooth tone transitions. As a result, both products fulfill an increasing market need for high productivity without compromising on quality.

The summit will also include demonstrations of Xeikon's X-800 Digital Front-End and its toner technology. During the demonstrations, participants will not only get a closer look at the new features of Xeikon's latest technology platform and how they translate into tangible benefits for end-users, but also get a chance to direct specific questions to Xeikon experts. In addition, the summit will feature simultaneous, hands-on workshops where participants will directly engage and learn about new technology features including:

Ecological Aspects - Toner vs. Inkjet

Environmental issues have become key initiatives for print manufactures with increasing demand for eco-friendly technologies from not only environmental groups but also, progressively more, government mandates. Electrophotography's dry toner-based system is recognized as a progressive technology in reduction of VOC emissions and paper recyclability as it does not contain solvents, volatile substances or low molecular weight components.

Digital Workflows

Today's digital printers need to produce larger volumes of increasingly better print quality for files incorporating complex design elements. In addition, they need to reduce their production times and keep the operational costs low to be profitable. The answer to all these challenges is to create a fast and efficient digital workflow that can be automated and integrated.

Finishing Solutions

Simply providing customers with top-quality prints is often not enough. Most clients request perfect finishing too. It is crucial to provide smooth and seamless integration of finishing solutions in the overall digital color production set-up, whether it is in-line, near line or off-line, for maximizing efficiencies.

"For some, this will be a chance to expand upon key findings learned at drupa now that there's been time to absorb the concepts," said Michael V. Ring, Chief Marketing Officer and VP-Sales of Xeikon's North American operations. "For others, who weren't able to attend the event, this is an opportunity to hear firsthand insights and discuss the latest industry advancements with peers. We want this event to provide a very interactive atmosphere to promote in-depth conversations about digital color technology."