LOS ANGELES, CA -- February 21, 2007 – Last October, ECRM Imaging Systems installed the first of two ECRM NEWSmatic 250 CTP system in the production facilities of The Korea Times’ Los Angeles Headquarter, serving all of southern California. Established in the United States by its Korean parent newspaper in 1971, The Korea Times is the largest Korean newspaper in the U.S., producing three separate products: a daily newspaper, as well as weekly and monthly magazines, all in English and Korean language versions. Since making the move to violet CTP, the paper has reported significant chemistry and plate savings and a 50% reduction in prepress staffing, as well as improved imaging leading to increased ad revenue. Overall savings are estimated at 10% annually. An unexpected bonus has been the positive environmental impact: the elimination of an odor resulting from plate processing (which the new system eliminated) that had previously led some staff to resign and resulted in worker compensation issues. The paper also reports a substantial reduction in the amount of paper waste. The Digital Vision The Los Angeles branch’s conversion to CTP is just step one in a much broader vision. This vision belongs to Korea Times CEO and Publisher Jae Min Chang. With the LA branch exhibiting such positive results, Mr. Chang is beginning to focus upon their news outlets in New York, Washington DC, Seattle, San Francisco, Hawaii, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, and Vancouver. The goal is convert all 11 Korea Times news branches into digital CTP workflows. The Violet CTP Decision “We had worked with ECRM imagesetters for several years and I’ve always been happy with the service I’ve received,” said Brian Jun, director of operations and production for the Los Angeles branch, The Korea Times. “My familiarity with ECRM increased my comfort level with our transition to CTP. I knew the NEWSmatic 250 would help me with a number of the challenges my team had been facing, but it’s gone above and beyond my expectations. Not only have we seen significant cost savings and improved efficiencies on a number of fronts, but I’m able to control the workflow 100%. Special editions have become much easier -- we’re able to create any product, any time we receive a request from our parent company.” The Specs The L.A. branch of The Korea Times currently has two MAXWorkFlow News systems (a prepress production system designed specifically for the newspaper and publishing environments) being fed by 30 composition stations. The MAXWorkFlow News workstations outputs pages to two NEWSmatic 250 CTP platesetters. The newspaper’s workload is a minimum of 170-190 pages per day, 50% color, with a daily production minimum of 300-400 plates over two shifts. With three to four daily deadlines, the increased efficiency the newspaper has seen since installing CTP has been vital -- at least two hours saved per section. The NEWSmatic 250 includes the following features: · 60 broadsheet plates per hour at 1270 dpi; · Accommodates the widest range of web widths up to a maximum format of 635mm x 927mm (25" x 36.5"); · ECRM’s patented FleXarm slip sheet removal system makes automation a realistic possibility for smaller and medium-sized printers; · Sensors track slip-sheets through pick-up, removal and disposal - ensuring fast throughput and superior reliability; · To provide added flexibility, the optical configuration includes eight resolutions from 1016 to 2540 dpi and three anamorphic resolution sets (1016 x 2032 dpi, 1200 x 2400 dpi, and 1270 x 2540 dpi).