Prepress Technology March 2000
News Briefs
Abode Systems Inc., Agfa Corp., Heidelberg and MAN Roland created an electronic job ticket specification, Job Definition Format, designed to bring new levels of process automation, collaborative workflow and asset management to both print and cross-media publishing. JDF was designed to cover content workflow and to fill the gap between prepress operations and post-processing.
Monotype Systems Inc. appointed eight new distributors following their purchase of PrePress Solutions Inc. The distributors are Alpha Imaging Technologies, Arkin Medo Inc., HPS Printing Products, Mueller Graphics Supply Inc., Multigraphics, Inc., Oldham Graphic Supply, Inc., R Graphis, and Washington Printing Supplies.
Kodak Polychrome Graphics filed a patent infringement lawsuit against certain Agfa-Gevaert Germany companies. The complaint centers on thermal computer to plate technology of Agfa's Thermostar P970.
Agfa Graphic Systems signed an agreement with Screen establishing Agfa as the exclusive service provider for Screen FlatRite 1050 plate recorders.
SoftCare and callas software announced a strategic alliance and presented field results of their developmental efforts for extended Adobe InDesign software.
Smart Storage Inc. signed an agreement to acquire the Ascent Storage Division of Kofax Image Products of Irvine, Calif. All intellectual property, assets, trademarks and key engineering personnel of the Ascent Storage business will transfer to Smart Storage.
Creo Products Inc. reported net income for the three months ended Dec. 31, 1999 of $5.2 million or 15 cents per share compared with $3.4 million or 12 cents per share. Total revenue for the three months increased 48.1 percent to $54.1 million from $36.5 million previously.
Scitex recently sold its digital prepress holdings to Creo.