October 4, 2004 -- Networked Graphic Production(tm) (NGP(tm)) Partners are pleased to announce the development of over 140 pairs of integrated solutions that provide a seamless flow of job and production data across the entire production process. These solutions link together different vendors' prepress, management information systems (MIS), presses, or finishing systems and allow data to flow between them. This development marks an achievement of 50 percent more JDF cross-vendor solutions than existed at drupa 2004. At Graph Expo 2004, NGP Partners will be demonstrating the value of JDF integration live for customers at booth #1017. Networked Graphic Production is the industry-wide initiative of 46 leading print industry vendors who are working together to deliver seamlessly integrated solutions that maximize the efficiency and profitability of its joint customers. The 140 pairs of integrated, cross-vendor solutions use the JDF (CIP4) specification to deliver high-value to customers. These integrated pairs include solutions for prepress, production planning, MIS, press and finishing. They allow job and production data to flow across the entire production process. This connection helps a printer to increase revenues, decrease costs, and provide instantaneous turnarounds for digital and offset printing, as well as MIS, and creative professionals. At Graph Expo... Five NGP Partners - Quark, Creo, MAN Roland, Prism, and Xerox - will demonstrate the value of their JDF-enabled integration live at the 700 square foot NGP booth (#1017) from October 10 to 13, 2004. NGP Partner systems are connected to demonstrate how an NGP-specified JDF-enabled workflow can enhance printers' businesses by creating a highly collaborative, optimized and efficient digital production environment. Integration Delivers Huge Value to Printer... Since drupa 2004, an overwhelming 40 percent of NGP integration pairs have been installed, or are available for purchase worldwide. Lane Press in South Burlington, Vermont is benefiting from its Networked Graphic Production environment. The printer has automated its production process from creative to customer service through to the pressroom. Says Lane Press president Phillip Drumheller, this action represents a sweeping process improvement in printing. "One of the benefits of JDF-compliant technology is the sharing of data across disparate systems. We will have a single access point to critical job data. As a result, we will see efficiency gains for ourselves and our customers as the process becomes fully automated." NGP Partners Creo, Hiflex and MAN Roland are working together to deliver measurable value to Lane Press and its customers. As a result, Lane Press has minimized its non-value-added time spent on publications - delivery of content is automated through electronic file submission, and automated job creation has reduced keying by 50 percent. Seeking to reap further value from their NGP environment, Lane Press plans to implement new connectivity in its finishing and delivery processes in the near future. To see the value of NGP solutions live, please visit the NGP Booth (#1017) during Graph Expo 2004. Drop by the booth to enter the daily draw to win an Apple(r) iPod(r) mini.