To All: Well here is part two.... If your still long, sleep well tonight!
As many of you know, I have believed in the PRST story for many months and still hold my shares. Over the last few days and a lot of digging, I have learned some almost "to good to be true" news and have spent most of today and yesterday verifying it through other sources. I would like to personally thank Jason's Mother for her contribution to this research. I feel confident posting this now even after finding most of those that could confirm all of this that I contacted, were not ready to publicly comment on this yet. Important to also note NONE would deny that it is indeed factual.
First, I would like to say I am learning all I can about this industry and may have a quote or two out of context but the general information is indeed factual and could indeed drive this stock to levels we have not yet seen.
You printers out there will agree that most printing today uses a film process on large 26" to 40" format press. Well, let me inform you that 6 and 8 page "on demand printing" is now a reality using waterless PRESSTEK PLATES.
Filmless trial runs have been conducted using PRST waterless plate technology, producing picture to print in stunning quality. Due to the world wide shortage of waterless plates, trials were run using
PRST 40" plate material and technology which was placed on a Heidelburg 102 CD. These recent trials on 7 color printing @ 3200 dpi using PRST plates produced a print quality beyond anything ever seen with film. Using a CTP imaging device from CREO and thermal PRST plates, the finished product demanded an immediate visit by PRST staff on Wednesday. Claim is that Sandy Fuse was "stunned" with the quality, clarity and finished product. "Prior to the trials, PRST itself did not appreciate what could actually be done with their plates" states Art Lefebvre.
Arthur Lefebvre, of the Waterless Printing Association newsletter spoke to both myself and Jason's Mother over the past two days. Between us, we have compiled all of his statements per fax's between us and have released to the best of our recall his statements, which are as follows:
"This superb quality we are examining, only found on PRST plates, has been termed as an absolute groundbreaking event in waterless printing. Most printers will now be able to use existing presses which will be accessible to PRST plates. This technique developed here is capable of producing stunning and extraordinary quality. What we are seeing here is a much shorter time to the finished product for the everyday printer. When this gets out, many printers will defiantly be using this technology as well as PRST plates. We've done amazing things here, nothing short of extraordinary things with the PRST plates. Not only is this comparable to the Tory technology, who had the only real claim to this market, but it is a dynamic and dramatic difference in quality and clarity over Tory. Not only that...."IT IS FILMLESS" The photographic details we are seeing with PRST plates are beyond anything ever previously thought possible. We're looking low cost, much higher productivity and the most amazing quality we've ever seen. This will also be used on the 40", 2 million dollar machines. There is a huge on demand type market waiting here. Were talking nothing short of a major breakthrough here. This is large presses...chemical free! We're looking 240 to 300 lines per inch. This is high screen rulings. Most newer presses delivered with temperature control systems or with the accessory added will use this technology. It is essential that printers do so to be successful. Presses that will use this technology will include Mitsubishi, Camory, Manrollan, Heildelburg CD102 8 color and 26" x 28" press and most major producers of large format presses."
"Creo is a manufacturer of CTP imaging devices. They do not make any plate material. With their cooperation, we have used the CREO with the PRST plates and have stretched the PRST product and have enhanced it. What we have done is in fact very surprising! We have just reported this to 175 subscribers including 60 or so printing trade publications. There will be a full scale article about this in the August edition of "Printing Impressions" titled "Waterless Computer to Plate" Many will be replacing traditional Film Based Image Setting. Don't you believe for a minute that PRST is not the real thing. NO ONE HAS A PLATE LIKE THEIRS.
Michael Beckman of Color Express states:
I have been involved in a test run of the Presstek thermal plates... The dots were very distinct all the way through the range from the light into the shadows. This is remarkable work, the best I have seen so far. I will have the results tomorrow of the Kodak film prints and will be comparing to the PRST plate's finished product. (Mike will be in contact with me Friday with the added results)
Michael is using the PRST plates on Heidelburg GTO size 14 x 20 and Heidelburg MO 19 x 25. His firm is ordering a Quickmaster DI and is in discussion with PRST for the possible purchase of the PEARL setter direct imager. He requested the address to this forum and has agreed to post his views here as well as his results of his own trials with PRST plates. His firm is currently working two 10 hour shifts daily using Heidelburg presses.
Gary Yurkovich of Creo Products states:
I just saw the new Waterless Printing Association newsletter. It is a 7 color waterless print job that was printed on Presstek plates using a Creo thermal CTP @3200dpi. It is a very high quality 2400 dpi job that shows off waterless and CTP in the very best light. You can get a copy from the Waterless Printing Association PO Box 5980 Chicago, Illinois 60659. Phone: 312-743-5677 or 1-800-850-0660. Fax 312 743-5756
Some of you still don't see it do you. This is powerful stuff here. What does this mean to PRST future revenue? This is way beyond even the most wild of imaginations have predicted in future plate usage and the resulting income potential. I am positive Cabot knows nothing about this yet. They were in the dark when I called them this Thursday afternoon. Guess what Lutt's next newsletter will contain?
Should you buy now or wait for a lower price? If you believe this info means nothing....then just ignore it. All I can tell you is there was true excitement from those I have spoken too, even those that would not comment kept asking questions wanting to know how much I knew! Three guesses what company I was questioning for their reaction.
Those that I have quoted are in the Printing field and are not stockholders. Arthur Lefebvre states that it is a possible conflict of interest in his capacity in the non profit association to buy the stock. Michael Beckman said he will post in this forum only after first buying PRST stock.
So what happens when the media and the street learn of the above information. Will the stock go down? Up? I note that the short position was released today and has increased dramatically from 2,260,000 to 3,166,000 as of 7-15-96. That is an increase of 40% over the prior 30 days. I can assure you that the short position is much higher now as their has been very little covering since the 15th. With approximately half the stock closely held, would you want to be short if the reaction to the above information is as powerful as I believe it will be when it gets out? Remember, this stock did reach 200 and it was not all based on hype. Will this stock rebound mush higer if no one is selling? The term I believe is called "short squeeze." Could it happen again? Well, why not? With the small float here anything is possible if this is indeed news that makes Cabot and those in the know right all along. I have learned that when everyone believes a company stock or the market in general is headed in one direction, the opposite will usually occur.
With all the huge prior negative media hype, nearly an additional 1M shares shorted, a huge NASDAQ correction and the forced sale by many on margin, it is remarkable that PRST is still near 50. With yet another false WSJ article published today actually proving that this media is slanting the truth, it must make even the staunchest
short pause to wonder - how much more media reporting was not factual and used to aid the recovery of the short position.
The insiders, institutions and the long position have not sold at this time. Why? You answer that. Wishful thinking that 20th Century sold today. A very irresponsible post based on rumor. That is not how 20th Century operates. They buy a position in a stock, only after intense research...much more than any of us are capable of here. They
would have been out long ago if PRST stock was not for real.
We will soon see how the media reports the above information. If some of you are actually wondering about the "future technology" replacing PRST plate usage, the above information should eliminate that fear. To many existing presses that can now adapt to PRST plates that won't be replaced for many many years.
Hope this helps all of you make the decisions right for you!
PS...Tom - call me. Briefcase swiped with your number when I was in L.A.
Regards,
Neil |
