Heidelberg Imagedirect Scanner to Be Available in First Quarter 2001

Imagedirect 665 Production Scanner delivers best-in-class image quality, boosts productivity and speed

A new production document scanner designed and manufactured by Heidelberg Digital L.L.C. will be available in the first quarter of 2001.

The Heidelberg Imagedirect 665 Production Scanner delivers 600 x 600-dpi resolution at its full speed of 65 pages per minute. It is designed for seamless integration with the Heidelberg Digimaster 9110 Network Imaging System and the new Heidelberg ImageSmart Workflow Suite as part of a complete digital production system.

Imagedirect also supports open industry standards and can be easily integrated so scanned documents and pictures can be used in other imaging applications.

"Digital printing environments will benefit from Imagedirect's outstanding image quality, productivity and robust design," said Jim Odmark, program manager for scanner commercialization, Heidelberg Digital. "This break- through product outperforms competitive offerings by delivering high image quality in a design that is easy to use and requires minimal operator attention."

About the Imagedirect 665
Designed and built by Heidelberg, Imagedirect features the rugged, industrial-strength design that Heidelberg customers have come to expect.

It offers a unique combination of features that delivers superior image quality and production:

• True 600 dpi. Imagedirect scans 600 x 600 dpi at the full speed of 65 pages per minute, while many current offerings claiming to deliver 600 dpi actually "down scan" at resolutions of 400 dpi to deliver their fastest scanning speeds.
• High uptime. The rugged design helps Imagedirect achieve dramatic improvement over existing document scanners in production uptime by reducing work stoppage and expanding service intervals.
• Best-in-class imaging. Imagedirect employs Heidelberg's patented image processing technology to preserve detail and deliver high-quality images for compound image types. It enables outstanding text and line art reproduction over a broad range of magnifications - from 25 to 400 percent - and supports one-bit and eight-bit imaging modes.
• Outstanding registration. Imagedirect controls registration automatically by measuring the orientation of each page and registering its image through real-time processing. Users can receive outstanding registration at full speed.
• 100-sheet capacity. Imagedirect employs a 100-sheet feeding tray (based on 20 lb. paper) with continuous-feed capability.
• Versatile paper handling. The scanner handles duplex jobs and accepts a comprehensive range of paper stocks and weights.
• Multi-feed detection. In the unlikely event of a multiple feed, Imagedirect automatically detects it at the moment it happens. Corrective action can then be taken to keep workflow moving.

Imagedirect features an open architecture design with an Ultra Wide SCSI interface and TWAIN compliance for easy connectivity. Since it employs the standard TIFF file format, images can be exported easily into other software applications.

Heidelberg's Imagedirect 665 Production Scanner will be offered as a new accessory and as an upgrade option for current Digimaster customers. The scanner, which is manufactured by Heidelberg Digital in Rochester, N.Y., will be available in the first quarter 2001 at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of 37,900 US-Dollar.

For further information:
Heidelberg Digital L.L.C.
Doug Sprei
Tel.: +1 (0)716 512 8054
E-mail: doug.sprei@heidelberg.com

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Communications
Thomas Fichtl
Tel.: +49 (0)6221 92 47 47
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 50 69
E-mail: thomas.fichtl@heidelberg.com