April 16, 2004 -- Kern AG, the Swiss-based document mailing and finishing systems manufacturer, will display with PrintCity at drupa 2004, and will perform a key role in the strategic alliance’s “PrintWorks” group of live production factories. Within a factory setting producing a range of highly distinctive and innovative printed products, Kern’s K686 document inserter with reading system will operate next to an Océ CPS700 colour printing system in the PrintWorks Small Commercial Factory. The Océ CPS700 will produce a range of promotional products for a new packaging brand specially created by PrintCity for drupa. One of these will be a full colour personal invitation ticket with an RFID tag (Radio Frequency Identification Data) using input data scanned from a magazine reply card to generate such printed invitations. Kern’s T-Line system will be used to collate and envelope these items. The company will also maintain a booth in PrintCity’s Hall 6, where it will show its Kern 3500 system for high-speed direct mail fulfilment, capable of filling 22,000 envelopes per hour. This is the more flexible brother of the Kern 3000, which is entered in the Guinness Book of World Records for having fulfilled 26,000 envelopes in an hour Kern will also show a state-of-the-art bookfinishing solution, called the Smartbinder concept, which can produce booklets and/or bound books on the same machine on a small footprint. This will be demonstrated, both online (SB4) and offline (SB3). Tony Michiels, Kern’s Product & Marketing Manager for Document Finishing On Demand, sees the project with PrintCity as a great opportunity to spread word of Kern’s expertise. He said: “Working with PrintCity we will be able to show the world that Kern is not only a leader in mailing systems, but that we now have complete solutions to offer. It will make us better known in this industry, and demonstrate that we don’t just follow the market – we often lead it.” Océ’s Thomas Opel, who is also Chairman of PrintCity’s Digital Activity Group, is similarly enthusiastic about the association with Kern. Opel said: “I have worked with Kern a great deal, both in a PrintCity capacity and an Océ one, and I have the highest regard for the company’s expertise. Its technology is just perfect for this application, and I’m sure that working together at drupa will be beneficial for both parties.”