Two of the most respected names in printing-Hewlett-Packard Company and Heidelberger Druckmaschinenen AG (Heidelberg) - have signed an agreement to co-operate in printing and publishing. They have also announced the availability of two joint solutions for the proofing market.
The two companies are global leaders in their respective markets - HP in digital printing and network printing solutions and Heidelberg in commercial printing and publishing solutions. The companies believe that combining their expertise in the digital and commercial printing worlds will result in better solutions for their mutual customers.
Additionally, they are exploring further alignment to deliver new and innovative printing and publishing solutions. Areas of exploration include colour management, workflow software, finishing devices and short-run colour printing.
The new proofing solutions combine Heidelberg`s strengths in digital graphics workflow and digital front-end leadership with HP`s strengths in printing, graphics and thermal inkjet technology, to enable new applications and business opportunities. The first solutions integrate Heidelberg`s digital pre-press workflow into HP DesignJet printers, and are being shown in both companies` booths at Drupa.
Heidelberg`s solution package for concept proofing consists of the HP DesignJet ColorPro GA A3+-size proofer and Heidelberg`s renowned colour management to deliver the best colour match to Heidelberg presses. This integrated solution enables users to obtain competitively priced conceptual proofs with accurate colours that match the final offset press.
The HP DesignJet 1050C large-format printers directly integrated in Heidelberg`s Delta and Prinergy workflows is the fastest imposition proofing solution available, providing eight-up imposition proofs in less than four minutes, thus matching the production speed of Heidelberg`s fully automated imposition application.
"These solutions are only the genesis of our new alliance," said Bernhard Schreier, chairman of the management board of Heidelberg. "Digitalisation of workflows is changing business and professional printing. Our customers need reliable proofing solutions. Heidelberg and HP together have the expertise to offer a workflow-printer combination, which is again the next step to the future of print."
"As leaders in our respective industries, we have combined our technology and printing expertise to create new solutions that are unmatched in the printing and proofing market," said Wim Heuninck, HP marketing & sales manager, hardcopy products. "Working together, we can provide countless new benefits to our customers, from cost-effective printing solutions to new ways of doing business that will generate revenue and make customers more competitive."
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Heidelberg
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG is, with more than 24,000 employees in over 170 countries, the world`s market leader for professional printing and publishing solutions. Heidelberg offers the complete product range for the graphic arts industry covering the spectrum from prepress and press to post-press. The company develops and manufactures software, electronic prepress equipment, sheetfed, web and digital presses, as well as finishing solutions. It has a total of 20 sites worldwide and 250 sales offices, making it by far the largest sales and service network in the industry.
Information can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.heidelberg.com http://www.heidelberg.com.
Hewlett-Packard Company
Hewlett-Packard Company-a leading global provider of computing and imaging solutions and services-is focused on making technology and its benefits accessible to individuals and businesses through simple appliances, useful e-services and an Internet infrastructure that`s always on.
Excluding Agilent Technologies, HP has 86,000 employees worldwide and had total revenue from continuing operations of $42.4 billion in its 1999 fiscal year. Information about HP and its products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com http://www.hp.com