Sell on the news: "ENCAD INC.'S LAUNCH OF NEW NOVAJET FAMILY OF PRINTERS
6/10/99 17:15
Heralds New Solutions-Based Focus for Revitalized Company
Industry's Fastest Thermal Inkjet Printer Among New ENCAD Products
SAN DIEGO, June 10 /PRNewswire/ -- ENCAD(R), Inc. (Nasdaq: ENCD), as part
of its strategy of developing and delivering digital imaging solutions
designed for specific vertical market applications, today introduced three new
NovaJet(R) printers targeting wide-format Graphic Arts Production (GAP) and
Point-of-Sale (POS) retail markets. These new printers, the NovaJet 700,
NovaJet 630 and NovaJet 500, are among the essential elements that comprise
three new application-specific digital image printing solutions from
ENCAD -- "Premier," "Production," and "Value." In addition to the new
printers, these solutions include software, inks, media, training and
technical support to meet the needs of customers in specific market segments.
These printers and all other elements comprising the solutions are offered
exclusively by ENCAD's authorized channel partners.
Designed for ease of use, modular, and constructed for complete
flexibility to support a wide range of applications, these printers provide
the highest level of printing productivity and the best value on the market
today.
"This line is the result of ENCAD's renewed focus on our customers and the
needs of each specific type of business," said Michael Steep, ENCAD's
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. "Our customers told us
they want reliability, performance, flexibility and more complete solutions.
We designed these solutions to fit those needs."
"We applaud ENCAD for really listening to end users and dealers and
introducing printing solutions that meet so many specific customer needs,"
said Bill Rychel, President and CEO of Tekgraf, Inc., ENCAD's largest
wholesale distributor. "We are also excited that these solutions will provide
our dealers and their end users with both increased reliability and
productivity -- that's a great value proposition for all."
The Premier Solution Featuring The NovaJet 700
ENCAD's top-of-the-line solution featuring the NovaJet 700 (NJ700)
printer, offers 600 dpi resolution with a very fast photo mode throughput
speed of 56 square feet per hour (SFPH) (5.2 SMPH). This represents a
93 percent increase in throughput over the NovaJet PRO 600e. The draft mode
throughput speed is 104 SFPH (9.7 SMPH). To achieve such speed, the NJ700
uses ENCAD's MicroBurst(TM) inkjet technology, which more precisely controls
the jetting process to improve upon the exceptional image quality that has
long been ENCAD's trademark. The NJ700 is designed for applications such as
photo reproductions and exhibit graphics, where high quality and fast output
are a must. Available for purchase immediately, the NJ700 comes standard with
the following productivity-boosting and cost-saving features:
-- Optically controlled take-up and dryer system to simplify extended
print runs
-- Media tracking system that monitors media usage for improved
productivity and less waste
-- 500 ml reservoirs and dual ink lines for unattended printing and
hassle-free switching between inksets
-- Pre-primed cartridges that are easy and clean to replace
-- Open jet detection and compensation to assure optimal print quality,
even with jet failures
-- Real Time Interpolation (RTI) technology that allows printing of 300
dpi RIP images, in a fraction of the time required for printing of 600
dpi
-- Optional networking
The Production Solution Featuring The NovaJet 630
Offering a balance of affordability and productivity, the NovaJet 630
(NJ630) delivers 600 dpi resolution with optimized speed. Through
MicroBurst(TM) inkjet technology, the NJ630 is capable of a photo mode
throughput speed of 46 SFPH (4.3 SMPH), making it approximately 59% more
productive than the NovaJet PRO 600e. The draft mode speed is 91 SFPH
(8.5 SMPH). The NJ630 is targeted to customers who need high quality output
at a more affordable price. The NJ630 will be available in July 1999. Other
NJ630 features that increase speed and productivity include:
-- Media tracking system
-- 500 ml reservoirs and dual ink lines
-- Pre-primed cartridges
-- Open jet detection and compensation
-- Real Time Interpolation (RTI) technology
-- Optional optically driven take-up and dryer mechanism
-- Optional networking
The Value Solution Featuring The NovaJet 500
Printing at speeds up to 74 SFPH in photo mode (6.9 SMPH) and 170 SFPH
(15.8 SMPH) in draft mode, the NovaJet 500 (NJ500) is the industry's fastest
thermal inkjet printer in its class. The lowest priced printer of this new
family, the NJ500 offers 300 dpi resolution with features designed to meet the
needs of the retail POS signage market, while offering faster printing for
graphic artists and exhibit builders.
The NJ500 is tailored to customers who require affordable, fast output.
It is available immediately for customer shipments. The NJ500 also boasts a
number of production-enhancing features: -- Media tracking system
-- 500 ml ink reservoirs and dual ink lines
-- Open jet detection and compensation
-- Optional optically driven take-up and dryer mechanism to simplify
extended print runs
-- Optional networking
Hardware Options
Ethernet connectivity through ENCAD's XCD Pony Print Server is an option
for all printers. The NJ700, NJ630 and NJ500 can also operate with the ENCAD
Fiery Raster Image Processor. The NJ500, NJ630 and NJ700 are all available
with a performance-enhancing Fiery X2-W color server from Electronics For
Imaging (Nasdaq: EFII). The Fiery X2-W RIP, based on EFI's powerful X2
architecture with a high-speed 200MHz MIPS R5000 CPU, is a true Adobe
PostScript 3 RIP that provides a fast and easy way to print accurate colors
from the new NovaJet family.
Wide Variety of Inks and Media
The NJ500 is compatible with all four ENCAD inksets: Graphic Arts (GA),
which produces an extra-wide color gamut; Graphic Standard (GS), which
delivers press quality colors; Graphic Outdoor (GO), which provides
lightfastness and water-resistance for outdoor durability; and Graphic Extend
(GX), which provides extended UV-resistance to combat the fading that results
from light exposure. At launch, the NJ630 and NJ700 will be available with
GS and GO inksets. All ENCAD cartridges are also covered by ENCAD's 500 ml
throughput warranty.
All printers are compatible with the wide array of indoor and outdoor
media choices including seven outdoor media and 13 indoor media types,
including ENCAD's new Photo Gloss PLUS and Photo Semi-Gloss PLUS. All three
printers are available in 42" (108 cm) and 60" (152 cm) widths.
Pricing
The U.S. MSRP for each base printer is:
-- NovaJet 700 -- 42" model $14,995
-- NovaJet 700 -- 60" model $21,995
-- NovaJet 630 -- 42" model $11,995
-- NovaJet 630 -- 60" model $17,995
-- NovaJet 500 -- 42" model $ 8,495
-- NovaJet 500 -- 60" model $10,995
ENCAD, Inc., a leading innovator in digital image printing solutions,
offers a broad line of wide-format color inkjet printers, software utilities
and scientifically matched inks, media, and fabrics. ENCAD's products produce
superior color images quickly and cost-effectively and are designed to
increase user productivity in a variety of applications including graphic arts
production, retail point-of-sale, sign-making, textile design, and
photographic enlargement. With over 100,000 printers sold, the Company's
products are offered and serviced in more than 67 countries through a
worldwide network of more than 90 distributors and more than 1,000 value-added
resellers. For more information about ENCAD, call 1-800-4ENCDIR or visit its
Web site at www.encad.com.
This release may contain forward-looking statements and expectations of
ENCAD, Inc. These statements represent only the Company's current
expectations, and certain factors could cause actual results to differ
materially from such expectations. These factors include global economic
factors, competitive pressures, unexpected delays in product releases or
future feature implementation, potential changes in the outlook for certain
market segments, growth of markets, less than expected penetration of certain
markets, continued availability of single-source components, and the ability
to successfully execute strategic initiatives. Please review the information
presented in conjunction with ENCAD's most recent Annual Report, Forms 10-K
and 10-Q, and other publicly available information, copies of which are
available from ENCAD.
ENCAD, NovaJet and MicroBurst are trademarks of ENCAD, Inc. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE ENCAD, Inc.
-0- 06/10/99
/CONTACT: David A. Purcell, Chairman, President and CEO, or Todd Schmidt,
Vice President and CFO, 619-452-0882, or Lisa Singer, Manager, Public
Relations, 619-678-5348, lsinger@encad.com, all of ENCAD, Inc.; or John
Cihomsky of Matthews/Mark Public Relations, 619-238-8500,
johnc@matthewsmark.com/
/Web site: encad.com
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