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Technology Stocks : Presstek -- Stock of the Decade?? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: SG who wrote (9694)	7/15/1998 1:05:00 PM
From: NEIL MACK	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 11098

According to Heidelberg Chairman, who was commenting on the Speedmaster-74DI.....he stated: "The reason for choosing Creo over Presstek was, he says, a matter of speed, Creo offering the --faster solution-- using an adaptation of the laser used on its Trendsetter." Most interesting! It has taken a day for me to confirm this.....It is NOT that the CREO laser system was a faster operating system than PEARL Technology and selected on that basis! Selection was based on the initial belief that using CREO laser, less --time-- would be needed to prepare the SM-DI for market production. Heidelberg found that their larger format press market share was certainly going to be threatened by the quick introduction of the competing KBA/Scitex 74-Karat DI press, showcased at Print-97 last September. Also, they will be taking Press orders for the Karat at IPEX in England this September with deliveries beginning in early 1999. Quite clear Heidelberg was/is in a hurry....pure and simple, to provide a competing press to maintain market share. It should be obvious to all, that Heidelberg had recognized the industry move to Direct-Imaging as a real future money maker and a decision to ignore this market would decrease their position as a leader in Press Manufacturing. For these reasons, Presstek will soon be the dominant thermal plate producer: Key is that all DI presses will image plates....these are clearly designed plate offerings from Presstek although the posibility is there that eventually others may also provide plates....with the market deciding the dominant carrier for DI presses. The future for plates will soon be that the vast majority of printers will eventually image thermal plates offerings. This falls direct into the hands of Presstek. I have learned that there is no other plate producer (Including Kodak) that is now capable of providing a "true" non-process thermal product that compares in anyway to the Presstek plate in quality. There is no company that can produce any sizable plate volume in the new technology and do so at the price level of Presstek while maintaining any sort of profit margin. Therefore, one by one, manufacturers are abandoning this plate technology. AE: Dupont/Agfa Zero Process (ZP) plate. Look for Fuji to follow. The Delta V technology invention is indeed a true major breakthrough for Presstek and has been carefully developed from what the industry considers the best plate engineers, technicians and scientists in the world. Their PEARLgold plate was developed from scratch and has required many millions of dollars in research/development/implementation to finally perfect. All dollars spent in research perfecting this product, will soon return back to Presstek in multiples......many times cost.....and be realized in record future revenue and net earnings as the industry turns directly to Presstek to meet the demand. Presstek has no interest in selling the Delta V Technology to plate competitors, however, just as Scott has stated, the door is ready to buckle off it's hinges from other industry manufacturers as the demand for this new vacuum technology is proving to be quite staggering. My research shows that the Battelle inclusion with Presstek, forming one unit is, IMO, the number one greatest move that Presstek has ever made in it's short history and will pay huge dividends to the company. The Imation/Presstek Matchprint Proofer is indeed a huge winner and much more successful than Pitman or Imation ever imagined at this early stage. With the expectation of as many as 200 units being sold at $225,000 in the first year, this is indeed great revenue to Presstek! Interesting to note that Presstek will be receiving revenue direct from Fuji in 1998 regarding their recent announced partnership. I believe that many of us longs are in for some surprises......those of you short.......major disappointment if you get greedy and choose not to cover. Neil