Spring 2004                    return to newsletter contents page

FPPA Member News

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NEWS FROM CREO, INC.

Creo Hyperflex Earns Award

Creo Darwin VI Authoring Tool

Creo Hyperflex Earns 2004 FTA Technical Innovation Award

Creo Inc. (NASDAQ: CREO; TSX: CRE) is proud to announce that its HyperFlex(tm) plate resolution enhancement software has been selected as the sole recipient of the 2004 Flexographic Technical Association/Flexo Market News Technical Innovation Award. Established in 1995, this award recognizes companies that have made significant contributions to the advancement of the flexographic printing and converting industry. The competition recognizes products that are judged to be of the highest technical accomplishment while providing the greatest return on capital investment.

"We are extremely pleased with the recognition we have received for HyperFlex-first the 2003 GATF InterTech(tm) Technology Award and now the FTA Technical Innovation Award," stated Chris Allen, Creo worldwide director of packaging. "HyperFlex is just one of a number of Creo digital prepress innovations that is helping our customers raise quality, accelerate job turnaround, and differentiate their businesses. These awards demonstrate the value of these developments to our customers and to the flexo industry as a whole."

HyperFlex software is a resolution enhancement technology that allows packaging trade shops, printers and converters to produce smaller, more stable dots on flexographic plates and presswork. The ability to produce a smaller minimum dot size increases the effective resolution of the flexo plate, and allows highlights to be reproduced more faithfully, with a less discernible transition in vignettes. HyperFlex complements Creo Maxtone™ screening-the hybrid AM screening solution that overcomes highlight and shadow reproduction limitations. Together, Maxtone and HyperFlex software enhance the quality of flexo printing, and reduce the amount of file manipulation normally required for problematic highlight areas.

Creo ThermoFlex® CTP imaging devices are designed to maximize the full potential of HyperFlex software. Available in narrow, mid, wide and new sleeve imaging formats, the ThermoFlex product family features industry-leading productivity, ergonomic design, and the flexibility to accommodate film, plates and sleeves with efficiency and ease of use. With new HyperFlex-Ready imaging, flexo printers are increasing the efficiency of prepress and achieving impressive improvements in quality.

When asked to comment on several customer print jobs, Anthony Masotti of New York Label said, "To try to achieve the level of quality that is shown on the samples mentioned, a lot of "doctoring" would have been needed. With the HyperFlex and Maxtone combo, we're able to achieve offset-like vignette fades as well as dense solids - on the same plate, using the same standard ink. Absolutely, the results are night and day."

Added Les de Villiers of Sheane Graphics, of Richmond, BC, Canada, "We have a new client who worked with a competitor for 15-plus years. They were tired of not getting the results they wanted so they decided to see what our system could do. They say the print quality makes a difference in selling their products. Everything looks brighter, we have better highlights, more contrast, better detail and it's cleaner. It's the way the plates are made with the ThermoFlex and Prinergy Powerpack® software-the Maxtone screening and HyperFlex especially. It's a huge advantage for us."

Personalization Power Enhanced for Direct Marketing in Latest Version of Creo Darwin VI Authoring Tool

Creo Inc. (NASDAQ: CREO; TSX: CRE) has launched version 6.0 of the Darwin(tm) Variable Information (VI) Authoring Tool. This powerful one-to-one marketing software now provides advanced solutions for the growing demand of complex variable Information jobs.

"For designers, creative shops, advertising agencies and any marketer who embraces the value of ROI-driven marketing models, Darwin 6.0 includes all the features required to design, author and manage personalized variable information documents," said Yaron Mohaban, director, On-Demand Applications, Creo. "These high-volume applications are used by a broad range of marketing professionals to increase differentiation, stimulate business growth and generate increased revenues."

Darwin turns QuarkXPress® documents into variable data documents, making all elements-text, graphics, charts, colors, layouts, backgrounds and even entire pages-dynamic. The software efficiently handles large databases which is ideal for targeted marketing and promotional campaigns. Version 6.0 offers a new Apple Aqua®-based user interface and improved workflow, including a robust, standalone database engine that improves performance and flexibility. It also supports optimized PostScript® output format which keeps spooled file size minimal, speeding up file creation, which is useful for black and white printers. Darwin 6.0 runs natively on Mac OS® X and supports QuarkXPress 6.0.

The Darwin application is now available in two configurations: the industry recognized Darwin Desktop and the new, more powerful Darwin Pro with an enhanced feature set for more complex jobs.

Darwin Pro enhancements include support for Darwin Driven Graphics. Users can now choose from multiple chart types which can be created dynamically for each record. Flexible controls allow users to preview and soft-proof graphics in QuarkXPress before sending to print. The ease of use and WYSIWYG functionality means that incorporating data-driven graphics into documents requires no special learning and there's no uncertainty regarding print results.

Dave Rohe, president of The Document Center is pleased with the release of the new data-driven graphics applications. "We have even more solutions at our disposal that provide us with unique competitive advantages," he said. The Document Centre produces and distributes technical and marketing literature from Carol Stream, Illinois, USA. "The elegant simplicity of the new GUI for these data-driven graphics clearly demonstrates that Creo understands the markets' needs as well as their expertise to manufacture intuitive and powerful software solutions," said Mr. Rohe.

Another new feature of Darwin Pro software is the ability to edit profiles by adding or deleting fields and even changing their types.

Darwin 4.5 users can upgrade to either Darwin 6.0 configuration by purchasing a license number at www.creo.com/darwin. Customers who purchase or upgrade to Darwin Pro 6.0 will also receive a free copy of QuarkXPress 6.0, English or Passport version (available on a first come-first served basis). Visit www.creo.com/darwin for more information about Darwin 6.0 products, an application demo, and the schedule for webinars where Creo will demonstrate the benefits of Darwin 6.0.

Scheduled for release in June 2004, the new version of Darwin 6.1 features new variable information tools. Creo will demonstrate these new features at Drupa:

• Support for Xerox® VIPP(tm) (Variable-data Intelligent PostScript Printware) format. This PostScript-based language defines variable information color documents. This support enables an integrated solution for users of Darwin software, for both color and black and white printers. Support for the VIPP format makes Darwin accessible to multiple printers support industry standards.

• Hot folder automation integrated with web applications. This feature enables the initiation of importing a database and executing a print run by simple drag and drop operation. The flow is fully automated, initiated with a keystroke and can be easily integrated into web applications.

• Set page device enables the user to define different paper attributes for each page of a document. This feature is especially useful when using the page rule feature in Darwin, for jobs that require variable number of pages in each booklet. Each needs to be printed on different paper attributes.

Creo will demonstrate the powerful variable information features of Darwin software at Drupa 2004 from May 6-19, 2004 on stand B10 in Hall 4.
 

NEWS FROM DYNAMIC DIES

Dynamic Dies, Clemson, BCM Team Up

Holland, Ohio Facility Receives ISO Certification

Dynamic Dies, Clemson and BCM Inks Team Up for New Processes in Color Management

Mike Hayden with BCM Inks and Wendy Chan and Dallas Pace with Dynamic Dies run a fingerprint at Clemson University to characterize the Bobst 160. Dynamic Dies is testing new processes for color management and is utilizing the resource at Clemson to evaluate this process.

BCM Inks agreed to supply the inks for the test and offer assistance during the press run. Dynamic Dies will return at a later date to run the final contract image and complete the CM loop to gather data on the process. Both companies are strong supporters of the program at Clemson and ultimately students benefit from the testing and interaction activities like this bring about.

Dynamic Dies, Inc. is a privately owned company that was started in Holland Ohio in 1971. For over thirty years DDI has provided corrugated converting companies the cutting dies to cut boxes and the flexo printing plates to print them. The company now operates four facilities.

Dynamic Dies, Incorporated provides Pre-Press Engineering and High Performance Tooling. Products include Flexographic Plates and Steel Rule Cutting Dies. Through creativity Dynamic Dies Incorporated has also introduced several patented innovations to the industry. Customer service is taken one step further through technical field support and customized learning programs.

Dynamic Dies, Inc. Receives ISO 9001:2000 Certification

Dynamic Dies, Inc. – Holland, OH announced that the Holland, Ohio facility received their certificate of registration to ISO 9001:2000 for their Quality Management System for both their Cutting Die and Printing Plate divisions. On December 4 & 5, 2003, Dynamic Dies, Inc. (DDI) successfully demonstrated its quality management system is in compliance with ISO 9001:2000 by being audited through their registrar, Quality Management Institute (QMI). This achievement independently confirms that DDI's business processes conform to the international standard set forth by ISO 9001:2000.

Achieving the ISO 9001:2000 certification required DDI- Holland to conform to a higher quality standard than previously mandated by ISO 9001:1994.  ISO 9001:2000 specifies requirements for the quality management system of an organization to demonstrate its ability to consistently provide product that meets customer and applicable regulatory requirements and enhance customer satisfaction through the effective application of the system, including processes for continual improvement of the system. 

DDI’s Quality Management System is deeply aligned with the company’s Quality Policy and controlling key processes affecting quality, from receipt of an order to delivery of the product," said Bob Mason, Quality Manager at the Holland plant.  "The ultimate goal of our program is the total elimination of the circumstances that cause nonconformance’s.  We simply will not accept the philosophy that says, “that’s close enough.”  We rely on the creativity and initiative of each individual in the organization to continually improve our policies, techniques and practices, so that we steadily move closer toward realizing our goal of total conformance in our products.”

DDI. is a privately owned company that was started in Holland Ohio in 1971.  For over thirty years DDI has provided corrugated converting companies the cutting dies to cut boxes and the flexo printing plates to print them.  The company now operates four facilities. DDI. provides Pre-Press Engineering and High Performance Tooling.  Products include Flexographic Plates and Steel Rule Cutting Dies. Through creativity Dynamic Dies Incorporated has also introduced several patented innovations to the industry.  Special value is offered through technical field support and customized learning programs.