VANCOUVER, British Columbia---July 2, 2002--Creo has signed a multiyear contract with Koenig & Bauer AG (KBA) for on-press thermal imaging technology. KBA has agreed to have Creo as its exclusive supplier of thermal imaging heads for its 74 Karat digital offset press. Creo has agreed to continue the development of the unique thermal imaging system for the 74 Karat digital offset press. Under the new agreement, Creo will also develop software and hardware for future applications in the digital printing market and provide technical support for KBA, the world's third-largest manufacturer of printing presses. The agreement is effective through December 31, 2004. Digital Offset Printing (DOP) presses, such as the 74 Karat, incorporate fast, accurate, on-press imaging. Unlike conventional presses where images are transferred to printing plates and then manually transported to the pressroom, images on DOP presses are transmitted as digital files and produced on plates that are already on the press, just before printing starts. This streamlines print shop operations, facilitates content changes at the last possible moment, and allows jobs to be turned around quickly and reliably. The 74 Karat prints 10,000 sheets per hour with the highest offset quality using Creo on-press thermal imaging and software for controlling and managing the imaging system, press and printing operations. Creo imaging and software technology provides complete digital connectivity to Creo workflow; making the 74 Karat digital offset press more efficient and cost-effective for short and medium runs.