To All....First report from Print-97....GREAT NEWS!
There are sure two different stories.....So far you have heard from Pierre and Jim.....now the other side...
Why is the stock up? Answer.....Presstek made a most significant announcement at the Press conference yesterday..... They have developed a new application of the thermal plate technology that allows the END-USER to use a modified version of their plates, then strip off the entire coating down to the aluminum, then re-laminate a new coat on it, to be then imaged and RE-USED. In other words, re-using the aluminum (in tests...up to 6 or 8 times)!
This is very important, because the aluminum is typically 30% of the total cost of a metal plate. This is a huge breakthrough and this technology is patented by Presstek.
It is a REVOLUTIONARY change in the industry. The announcement,
along with a continuously playing video in the booth, is described as a technology announcement, not a product announcement. End-user and even competitive reaction is solicited (by way of short surveys) to help the marketing group decide on how to proceed with the new application. I believe this is a very clear-cut example of the strength of Presstek R&D and how their excellent scientists and engineers will continue to provide innovations and new technology.
The press was scribbling notes as fast as they could write and have continously been requesting further information. I am looking forward to how the press handles this news. During the press conference the majority of question and answers were directed at this new plate breakthrough.
The press conference was attended by ALL the heavy hitters in the printing industry trade journals, including Graphic Arts Monthly, Printing Impressions, High Volume Printing, Seybold etc.
To dispute the ramblings of Pierre and Jim, the live demos, conducted every hour, have been "STANDING ROOM ONLY", and the highest volume days of the show are yet to come.
No Digitek rep in attendance. A Vice President of Technology of one of the Digitek beta sites has gone on record stating that based on their experience in running the Digitek plate, she re-iterated her comment, which had been posted on the QM-DI users forum, that the plates had such a severe scratching problem that "they were not at all usable or acceptable."
I am staying at the InterContinental Hotel in Chicago tonight through Sunday....Leave a message if you are attending and would like to say HI!
Next posts with many more details will be Monday....or sooner if exciting news breaks!
Buy Presstek!!!!.......and Paul, I will answer your questions on my return....Don't expose yourself to heavily in your short holdings....What Presstek announced is a big deal and will sell many, many plates....Their market is indeed huge and besides....what else is Presstek holding up their sleeve?
There is a rumor flying of a big deal brewing with another giant press maker in the industry for a new DI press, not yet announced. Is this true? Anyone else hearing this. I'm going to be sniffing to see what I can dig up.
Neil |
