Sydney, Australia, September 23, 2004 - LithoTechnics Pty Limited and MBO today announced plans for live demonstrations of computer integrated manufacturing at the upcoming GraphExpo, McCormick Place, Chicago. Visitors to the MBO America booth (#2073) will witness CIP4 folding data being generated by Metrix LithoTechnics' new automatic layout calculator, and being fed into the MBO Datamanager to automatically set up the MBO Perfection folding machine with navigator control. MBO's CIP4/JDF integration software, Datamanager, has been commercially available for several years. However, until Metrix, no CIP3 generating system has been able to create complete folding data for custom folds, instead restricting operators to a limited number of standard folds from a catalog. Metrix on the other hand, does not use a catalog, but allows users to build their own custom folds using a simple step-by-step graphical user interface that mimics folding a sheet on screen. "We are very excited that Metrix can give us complete folding data," says Hans Max, President and CEO of MBO America, "and our customers will certainly benefit from this new level of integration." Metrix ships with a library of over 80 common folding schemes, but also allows users to build custom folds simply. "Besides being extremely easy to use, Metrix brings unprecedented intelligence to computerized folding" says Rohan Holt, LithoTechnics founder. "As the user folds a sheet on the screen Metrix tracks all the complex relationships between the folds. When the folding scheme is used in a job, Metrix ensures the product can be manufactured, for example, making sure roll-fold pages are always shorter than their parents." Metrix is the first truly automatic layout calculator designed specifically for estimators, customer service representatives, production planners, and prepress operators. Metrix's patent pending technology considers all necessary parameters, such as grain directions and product bleeds, to automatically calculate optimum press sheet layouts, even for ganging multiple products. Metrix can integrate with MIS systems by importing JDF (Job Definition Format) product intent data, and can also export JDF, CIP3, and Preps template files to eliminate the manual creation of Preps templates in prepress, and to automate the setup of cutters and folders in the finishing department. At GraphExpo, Metrix will also be demonstrated in the JDF Pavilion, booth #5087.