HUDSON, N.H., May 1 -- Presstek, Inc., the leading manufacturer and marketer of digital offset printing business solutions, today announced that it will be introducing a UV printing option for the Presstek 52DI and 34DI digital offset presses at drupa, the world's largest printing trade show scheduled for May 29th through June 11th, 2008, at the Messe Dusseldorf in Germany. More than 400,000 visitors from 122 countries are expected to attend this show where Presstek will be showcasing the UV option on the Presstek 52DI in Hall 04, Stand A55.

"Printing with UV waterless inks on Presstek's DI presses expands Presstek's opportunity to provide the highest quality lowest cost four color offset solution for a wider range of markets including consumer packaging, point-of-purchase and direct mail," said Klaus Schleicher, Presstek Group Product Director, Digital Printing Business Unit. "It will also dramatically increase the services our customers can offer their clients."

"This new UV option for DI presses will open new doors for Presstek, our customers, and their clients by offering a 'best of both worlds' scenario," adds Schleicher. Presstek DI presses are designed to produce fast turnaround short-run, high quality color work on a wide range of substrates. By adding the UV printing option, the already flexible Presstek 52DI and 34DI presses can switch between standard waterless inks and UV waterless inks for an increased competitive advantage.

UV printing represents a significant growth opportunity for print service providers. With the DI implementation, even faster turnaround is achieved with the UV waterless inks drying instantly as each sheet exits onto a transport ramp, under UV lights and into a high-pile delivery system. UV waterless inks have the potential to achieve greater densities than conventional waterless inks and provide superior printing on a full range of plastics and specialty substrates, including lenticular. Faster drying times and high-fidelity reproduction on non-porous materials and uncoated stocks result in faster turnaround times and a higher quality process for the production of labels, direct mail, packaging, point-of-purchase materials and general commercial printing. These lightfast inks also offer increased durability and quality when printing on foils, vinyls, films and plastics.

"In line with our overall strategy," added Schleicher, "UV waterless inks are environmentally friendly, with no VOCs, reduced energy consumption, less makeready waste and faster drying times. The already wide range of applications that can be cost-effectively produced on Presstek DI presses just got wider, making it easier for printers to differentiate themselves in a very competitive marketplace, with even faster turnaround times."

Two UV printing options will be available for both the Presstek 52DI and 34DI, including field upgrades. The breakthrough hybrid UV option that allows for switching between standard waterless and UV waterless inks will be available in the fourth quarter of 2008. The UV option for operating the DI as a UV waterless press will be available in the third quarter of 2008.

Presstek 52DI and 34DI: Profitability, Speed, Quality and Environmental Benefits

Presstek 52DI and 34DI digital offset presses deliver environmentally friendly, fast turnaround, high quality short run color printing, economical in run length quantities as low as 250. Presstek DI bridges the strategic gap between conventional offset and digital toner-based presses. According to InfoTrends research, the Presstek DI delivers a 50 percent cost savings on average per letter-size page when compared to a high-volume production color digital press and job profitability is 13 percent higher on a DI press when compared to a conventional offset press. The Presstek 52DI is a 52cm press with a maximum sheet size of 510 x 360 mm; and the Presstek 34DI is a 34cm press with a maximum sheet size of 340 x 460 mm.