SINGAPORE: Heidelberg Asia Pte. Ltd. (Heidelberg) and Ricoh Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. (Ricoh), announced that Malaysia and Thailand have been chosen as the first markets in Asia in the phased global rollout of the new Heidelberg and Ricoh strategic cooperation.

The partnership enables Heidelberg to sell Ricoh's latest color digital press, the Ricoh Pro C901 Graphic Arts Edition, as part of Heidelberg's total print solution. In Asia, Heidelberg will also sell the Ricoh monochrome production printing product portfolio.

Addressing the market need of integrated print production
Digital printing continues to grow as commercial printers extend their business models to offer marketing services, short run color, and same-day service. Offset printers are increasingly seeking to complete their portfolios with a flexible digital solution integrated into their existing high quality offset environment. The Ricoh and Heidelberg partnership supports them in growing their core offset business and enable them to offer more flexibility towards their clients using Ricoh's latest digital print technology. Today, offset printers have access to a nearly unlimited range of printing substrates, spot colors and state-of-the-art coating applications as well as specialty inks through Heidelberg's market leading offerings. By adding Ricoh's leading digital production printing technology, professional printers will be able to offer the well-known advantages of variable data printing, instant delivery of urgent print jobs and cost effective production of shorter run lengths.

The combination of offset and digital printing now available from Heidelberg enables print shops to respond flexibly to customer requirements by offering profitable variable data printing and shorter runs in addition to cost-efficient, high-quality offset printing.

Bent Mortensen President of Heidelberg Asia commented, "We have worked closely with the Ricoh Regional Management in Singapore and have agreed a common strategy for introducing Ricoh into Heidelberg's Asian markets. I am impressed by the commitment and dedication of the Ricoh Asia Pacific Headquarters team as well as the respective Ricoh teams in Thailand and Malaysia. These countries are the first step and we will be introducing Ricoh into Heidelberg operations in other markets through a phased approach".

Nobuaki Majima, Managing Director of Ricoh Asia Pacific said, "I believe the partnership between Ricoh and Heidelberg in our region is a great fit. Like us, Heidelberg has an uncompromising commitment to excellence. We are committed to offering a broad and balanced range of solutions that are not limited and truly embrace the era of digital and offset convergence. Together, we continue to share our knowledge and expertise to develop the best models that meet the needs of our customers".

Interplay of Offset- and Digital-Printing offering additional flexibility
The Ricoh Pro C901 Graphic Arts Edition addresses the needs of commercial printers to build a high quality, digital color printing environment. Featuring a production speed of 90 pages per minute (ppm) it is easily the fastest and most productive system in the digital value segment. This segment includes systems providing production speeds between 60 ppm and 90 ppm with an average monthly production volume from 80,000 to 300,000 A4 pages and beyond. Providing high quality output, the Ricoh Pro C901 Graphic Arts Edition is an ideal solution to meet the expanding demand for shorter print-runs, variable data printing and rapid delivery on a wide range of substrates. In addition to the Ricoh Pro C901 Graphic Arts Edition, the Ricoh Pro 1107EX and Ricoh Pro 1357EX will extend the portfolio to include digital monochrome solutions.

By combining Heidelberg's Prinect workflow with the dual platforms of offset, for example with the Speedmaster 52 Anicolor press, and digital printing, with the Ricoh Pro C901 Graphic Arts Edition, print service providers will be able to derive greater profitability from short run jobs and simplify color and job management.

"In combination with our best-in-class offset technology, the Ricoh Pro C901 is the ideal digital solution. Using both technologies, customers are able to offer variable data printing and shorter runs, next to their established cost-effective and high-end quality offset printing. With this new partnership, Heidelberg will also address customer demands in the broad spectrum of hybrid print applications such as the combination of offset and digital printing within a single print product. We are convinced there are many opportunities for customers to grow their business with this platform," said Mr. Mortensen.

Mr. Majima added, "We are leveraging our strengths to help print service providers in the AP region to invest and grow with confidence. With our support, our customers can look forward to a more flexible and profitable future."

In conclusion, Mr. Mortensen said, "This partnership is exciting for us and I believe for our customers. The combined offset and digital solution provides complimentary printing technology and cost efficiency along with the highest quality and support from two leading suppliers. I am confident that our customers will benefit greatly by the Ricoh and Heidelberg partnership".

Both companies are committed to deliver a value-added offering which drives long term profitability for their customers. Entering into a global distribution contract is the first step of the strategic partner cooperation between the two companies. Heidelberg's and Ricoh's future plans are to include integration with Heidelberg's industry standard workflow solution in the graphic arts industry, Prinect, as well as joint development activities for future printing applications.

For the global rollout, Heidelberg follows a sequential approach in order to guarantee the highest available service level to its customer base. Starting in April 2011, customers in Germany and the UK are already able to purchase the Ricoh Pro C901 Graphic Arts Edition from Heidelberg. Both companies are working on the rollout for other Asian markets, North America, China and Latin America. The Eastern European market is targeted to rollout by drupa 2012, closing the worldwide process.