PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 6, 2005 -- HP today announced that its six-year-old HP Indigo media certification program at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Printing Applications Laboratory has been expanded to become the Worldwide Media Center (WWMC) for evaluating media used on HP Indigo digital presses. As part of the expansion, RIT has installed a new HP Indigo press 5000 and a new HP Indigo press ws4050 to expand its testing capabilities. “The new presses are an expansion of the services we have been proud to deliver to HP as well as its media suppliers,” said Bill Garno, director, RIT Printing Applications Laboratory. “The range of papers that you can successfully print on HP Indigo equipment is significant and it continues to grow. Today the majority of the papers RIT certifies are not Sapphire coated. Paper manufacturers are finding new ways to optimize their products for HP Indigo presses.” Because of the active and successful third-party approval process, HP Indigo presses print on the industry’s widest range of approved substrates for high-end digital color printing – from coated and uncoated papers to transparencies, labels, and plastic stocks. Substrates for specialty printing include PVC, polyester and polycarbonate. “Commercial printers who use HP Indigo presses benefit from being able to choose from more approved paper and plastic substrates than with any other high-end digital press in the marketplace,” said Hans van Veen, director, Indigo Supplies and Media, HP. “This extensive selection and flexibility enables HP customers to broaden their digital printing applications, differentiate themselves in a competitive market, and add value to their services.” The certification program for third-party manufacturers continues to expand the number of substrates that provide excellent results on HP Indigo presses. Currently, 700 media solutions worldwide are approved for use – including 80 new media approved in the U.S. since January 2005. A Comprehensive Evaluation from RIT Is Behind Every Certification Evaluation in the approval process examines a substrate’s runnability, ink transferability, blanket compatibility and other factors, such as ink-media interaction and flaking. To conduct its HP Indigo tests, RIT has a full-scale, controlled environment where substrates are evaluated on a range of HP Indigo presses. The certification process takes an average of six hours per substrate sample. “Our HP Indigo presses operate nearly every day to evaluate substrates,” said Fred White, manager of press operations, RIT Printing Applications Laboratory. “We evaluate for anything that could go wrong, runnability-wise, in a digital printing substrate.” The RIT WWMC pays particular attention to factors that have a significant impact on digital print quality, such as ink adhesion. In addition, White, Garno and their RIT colleagues regularly discuss standards, and methods to improve papers with substrate suppliers. HP Debuts 100 lb. Uncoated Cover and Enhanced Coated Portfolio for HP Indigo presses HP’s portfolio of HP Indigo media continues to evolve and grow. HP will officially launch its premium 100 lb. uncoated cover at Chicago’s PRINT 05 and CONVERTING 05 trade show on September 9th. Concurrently, HP will unveil the newest revisions to the gloss coated portfolio. All HP Indigo Printing Papers are specifically engineered for best-in-class, superior end-to-end system performance with HP Indigo presses and HP ElectroInk. From a 60 lb. uncoated text to a 100 lb. premium uncoated matte or gloss cover, this is a competitively priced and comprehensive line offering a full range of solutions. HP Indigo Printing Papers are known for their consistency, excellent runnability, superior ink adhesion and surface uniformity. Backed by HP, the entire HP Indigo Printing Papers portfolio delivers archival quality, superior whiteness, brightness and proven performance, press ready, right out of the carton. Pow Wow at Print 05 On September 12, several of the suppliers that produce certified papers for HP Indigo presses will gather for a Worldwide Media Center Summit in HP’s booth #12005 at PRINT 05. During the Summit, Joan Stone, dean of RIT’s College of Imaging Arts and Sciences (CIAS), and Bill Garno will make a presentation regarding RIT’s academic and outreach activities, and highlighting RIT’s partnerships with HP. HP leadership will also speak regarding our growing relationship with RIT and the role HP represents in today’s marketplace.