CHICAGO, IL – Xerox Corporation is making print "personal" at  Print 09, unveiling a lineup of digital systems that drive production of a range of lucrative print jobs, from personalized golf ball boxes to high-end customized sales brochures and credit card statements that include tailored offers.
 
At Xerox's 28,000 square foot booth (No. 1100), graphic communications professionals can learn from industry experts during one-on-one consulting sessions, preview the latest in packaging technology and check out the newest digital breakthroughs including a Xerox continuous feed solution that maintains the impact of full-color printing with the economics of black-and-white.
 
"We know it's been a challenging year, but we also know the print industry is ready for recovery and preparing for new opportunities," said Eric Armour, president, Global Business Group, Xerox Corporation. "As the production color market share leader, Xerox is taking full advantage of Print 09, bringing the technology and workflow, industry expertise and business development tools our customers need to overcome the challenges of real business today. Looking to the future, our commitment to research and development remains strong as we continue to bring new solutions to the market – keeping print providers on the leading edge."
 
Show attendees have much to choose from including lunch seminars, one-on-one consulting sessions with an industry analyst, or conversation stations to see results-generating customer applications printed live on the show floor – all aimed at helping print providers grow their businesses. For those who can't be in Chicago, Xerox has opened registration to its Virtual Print 09 at http://www.xerox.com/print09.  From the Web site, visitors can see demos, watch presentations and download expert advice about how to drive business in today's environment.
 
New offerings at Print 09
Retailers looking to catch the eye of consumers are often turning to personalized packaging, such as novelty chewing gum wrappers with a child's name or promotional golf ball boxes that include a company's logo and contact information. Xerox's Automated Packaging Solution powered by Stora Enso Gallop allows print providers to customize packaging in a way they've never been able to, while capturing new business in this growing market. Driven by the Xerox iGen4 Press, this first-of-its-kind solution can produce completely automated folding cartons, in-line with minimal operator intervention – ideal for short-run jobs.
 
Transpromotional documents – print pieces that combine bills or financial statements with marketing messages – are an effective way to cross-sell to consumers. The new Xerox Continuous Feed 4-over-1 Solution – a toner-based system that combines a black-and-white Xerox 650 Continuous Feed Printer and a Xerox 490 Color Continuous Feed Printer – is perfect for printing this type of document. By continuously printing one side of the page in color and the other in black-and-white, users benefit from adding full-color marketing messages on one side and from the lower cost of printing content like terms and conditions and activity details in black-and-white. 
 
Announced earlier, the Xerox DocuColor 7002/8002 Digital Presses will also be on display. They provide outstanding image quality and a smooth matte finish for full-color sales collateral, direct-marketing pieces and photo publishing applications.
 
Printing checks, rebate coupons and financial forms require maximum security – made possible with Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR). To accommodate that sensitivity, the company will showcase an update to its Nuvera line – the Xerox Nuvera 200 and 288 MX Perfecting Production Systems with MICR technology.
 
The Xerox iGen4 220 Perfecting Press will debut at the show; ideal for customers looking to shorten the turnaround time on large jobs, such as customized promotional materials and direct-marketing pieces.
 
Xerox's new FreeFlow Process Manager 8.0 will help print providers streamline the time between job submission and print by automating the labor intensive and repetitive prepress process.
 
A number of new business development tools and services will be available, including how to market to advertising agencies and a variable-data printing tool kit with templates created by XMPie.
 
Xerox CEO Ursula Burns will join Xerox scientists on stage during Xerox's Real Business Live! event on Monday, Sept. 14.  Beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Grand Ballroom at McCormick Place, Xerox will debunk industry myths and feature guest stars from the Discovery Channel's MythBusters show.
 
Variable printing remains strong
In the second annual survey of its North American Graphic Arts Premier Partners, Xerox found customers are increasingly turning to variable printing to help their clients succeed – using personalization to increase response rates on direct mail, sales collateral and other promotional pieces.
 
In addition to variable printing, Web-to-print tops the list as the most requested offering from customers. The survey also inquired about the top challenges facing print providers today – with results pointing toward the current economic climate and declining marketing budgets. Consistent with last year's findings, the leading applications customers associate with new revenue growth include direct mail, photo specialty products and transpromo pieces.