North America's Leading Independent Graphic Arts Supplier Enters Ink Business with Van Son Holland Ink MINEOLA, NY and TOTOWA, NJ, July 31, 2002—Van Son Holland Ink Corporation and Pitman Company, the leading independent North American graphic arts supplier, jointly announced today that they have entered into a strategic alliance. The alliance strengthens Pitman's capabilities as a single source provider for pressroom needs by expanding its product portfolio to include a full line of quality inks, and provides Van Son the opportunity to broaden its market reach through the addition of a key national distribution partner for the Van Son Quickson Series of ink, specifically designed for mid-size to large commercial sheetfed presses. Under the terms of the agreement, Pitman now markets Van Son inks to the distributor's extensive customer base. Van Son will support and complement Pitman's ink blending and mixing facilities, strategically located throughout the United States, ensuring fast turnaround for customer requirements. Additionally, Van Son will provide sales and product training to Pitman's regionally based pressroom sales specialists, who will provide sales and technical support to Pitman customers. Dwight Collier, vice president of the pressroom division at Pitman Company, noted, "The alliance with Van Son enables us to integrate exceptional ink products and outstanding customer service into our comprehensive product portfolio, significantly increasing the level of total commitment to our customers. Following our decision to position Pitman as a major supplier of high quality inks and related products, we spent many months evaluating potential ink partners to determine which company offers the strongest assets in that market. With its world-class reputation for quality inks, we all agreed it's Van Son. The company has done an excellent job of winning an important sector of the mid-size and commercial print market with its Quickson Series, manufactured specifically for large, sheetfed presses. We intend to expand on the growing industry-wide product acceptance of that line and also offer the many other strong entries in the Van Son line, including digital inks." "This alliance brings together two market leaders who have succeeded through the years based on their ability to be very customer-centric" said Joe Bendowski, president of Van Son Holland Ink, N.A. "Van Son rounds out the total solution for Pitman customers and gives our inks expanded market presence. We are excited about what this relationship can provide to printing companies who recognize the value of one quality provider for all their pressroom needs." Now in its 96th year of serving the graphic arts industry, the Pitman Company provides the full spectrum of digital imaging solutions, service, and support in addition to traditional prepress and pressroom products, as well as office products and industrial supplies. The company also offers tailored product solutions for the specific requirements of printing market segments, such as newspaper publishing and packaging production, and has a strong national accounts program. Pitman's PrintNation Division is the world's largest online printing and equipment supplies store. Headquartered in Totowa, New Jersey, Pitman Company has 21 branch locations with modern distribution facilities across the United States. Pitman Company is on the web at www.pitman.com. In business since 1872 with corporate headquarters in Holland, Van Son creates printing inks that have set the standard for quality and performance in pressrooms around the world. With a precise, controlled, and completely internal manufacturing process, Van Son is currently supplying printing inks to printers in over 130 countries around the world through strategic alliances with its distributors. Van Son's entrepreneurial spirit and inventiveness have fueled the phenomenal growth of an enterprise that is based exclusively on imaging products. Van Son never borrows technology—it creates it. Van Son develops inks for small, mid-size, and large commercial presses, digital duplicators, and inkjet printers. Its new Quickson Series of ink is formulated for the high volume sheetfed pressroom. For more information, visit www.vansonink.com.