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

To: GVTucker who wrote (9977)	9/22/1998 11:06:00 AM
From: SG	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 11098

**NEWS** GV, please do not get so righteous until you have some facts one way or another. I will admit that I am wrong about the royalties on the SM-74 when and if they do not materialize. It is still up in the air and you know it or should. Presstek Announces Imaging Technology to be Shown At IPEX '98 HUDSON, N.H., Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Presstek, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRST - news), a leading provider of direct digital imaging technologies to the printing and publishing industry, today announced that its imaging and plate technologies will be exhibited in several locations at the IPEX '98 tradeshow in Birmingham, England starting today, and continuing through September 30. IPEX, held every five years, showcases the latest products from the graphic arts and visual communications industries. This year's show will feature close to 2000 companies from 70 countries. Presstek's new PEARLhdp(TM) halftone digital proofing system will be demonstrated for the first time using Euro Color standards. This new application for the PEARLhdp will begin European beta testing in the fourth quarter of this year with commercial availability planned for early 1999. The PEARLhdp, which is now commercially available in the United States, will be demonstrated in the Imation, Openshaw and Sakurai booths. A new version of Heidelberg's most popular press, called the Quickmaster DI Plus, will be showcased in Heidelberg's booth, along with Presstek's PEARLdry(TM) plate. Included in the new Quickmaster DI Plus are an improved imaging system and overall faster make-ready times. Presstek's PEARLgold(TM) plate, the world's first truly process-free, commercial quality thermal ablation lithographic offset plate, will be demonstrated in the Openshaw, Sakurai, and Varn booths, as well as on the Heidelberg/Creo Trendsetter 3230A press in the Heidelberg booth. PEARLgold will also be demonstrated on the new Heidelberg Speedmaster 74-DI press which is scheduled to be shown for the first time at IPEX. Scitex/KBA Planeta will also show their new direct imaging press, the 74 Karat, at IPEX. This new direct imaging press, in addition to using Presstek's PEARLdry plates, is also a licensed Presstek product. Omni-Adast, another Presstek imaging partner, will be exhibiting an updated version of their direct imaging press, the 705C-DI four-up press, as well as PEARLdry plates. Presstek's PEARLsetter(TM) will be featured in the Openshaw and Varn booths. Sakurai's version of Presstek's platesetting device, the Platemaster, will be exhibited in Sakurai's booth, along with the SakuraiHDP and Presstek's PEARLgold plate. Presstek's Chief Executive Officer, Bob Hallman, said, ''I am excited to be attending IPEX as a member of the Presstek team. In my mind, Presstek's base of technology provides this company with a capability unmatched in the industry. This year's IPEX show is a real opportunity for me to better understand the potential we have to position the company for its next major technology leap and to plan for DRUPA 2000.'' Founded in 1987, Presstek, Inc. is a leading developer and international marketer of non-photographic, non-toxic digital imaging and printing plate technologies for the printing and graphic arts industries. Presstek's products and applications incorporate PEARL(R) technologies and utilize PEARL consumables for computer-to-plate and direct-to-press applications. The company's patented PEARL thermal laser diode family of products enables its customers to produce high quality, full-color lithographic printed materials more quickly and cost efficiently. ''Safe Harbor'' Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Certain statements contained in this News Release constitute ''forward-looking statements'' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the risks of uncertainty of patent protection, the impact of supply and manufacturing constraints or difficulties, product market acceptance, possible technological obsolescence, increased competition, litigation and other risks detailed in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The words ''believe'', ''demonstrate'', ''intend'', ''expect'', ''estimate'', ''anticipate'', ''likely'', and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statement was made. SOURCE: Presstek, Inc.

To: GVTucker who wrote (9977)	9/22/1998 12:32:00 PM
From: NEIL MACK	Respond to of 11098

Scott, It is now quite clear that KBA/Scitex has licensed Presstek Technology. (This latest Presstek Press Release is the first time I have viewed it as being "on the record") Although the bears have resisted this fact for many months, clearly, with licensing, comes royalty payment or compensation to Presstek for their DI technology on the 74-Karat press. Scott, as you have often stated factually, Presstek maintains that any use of the DI on-press process is proprietary technology owned by them and patented. Many in the industry agree and state the same. Even though the 74 Karat does not use Presstek imaging lasers, they were not able to bypass licensing with Presstek and would have done so if they could. The Heidelberg/Creo arrangement for laser technology, as seen on the Speedmaster 74-DI, is expected to be an identical arrangement in regards to licensing, even if it is determined that CREO lasers will remain in the final Speedmaster press product sold to printers. (Note - The 74 Karat press shown at Print 97 exactly 1 year ago, has been totally changed from it's original debut and is most certainly a different press from the first proto-type.) Heidelberg needs Presstek and it is reported that Heidelberg was most unhappy that Presstek licensed the DI technology to Scitex/KBA for the Karat. Irrespective of that, Presstek remains a viable partner for Heidelberg and has commitments for a brand new DI Press to be shown at Drupa with the new laser technology, use of Presstek plates on press, and for further development of new technology. With these comittments, could be engineering fees etc, as well as future royalties. It is believed that CREO was selected initially for the Speedmaster as at that time, they had a more concise laser which would image a smaller dot. It is now believed that Presstek's new 4th generation laser is highly superior to the CREO laser or any other laser used in graphic arts and will be sought out for that reason. Some believe that this laser offering may eventually replace the CREO product, as now used in the existing Speedmaster DI proto type, now shown at IPEX. It is possible that the CREO product may not be what Heidleberg will eventually sell. This is a good argument for the reason why a "licensing agreement" with Heidelberg for use of Presstek DI technology has not yet been announced. Presstek could still very well be negotiating with Heidelberg as the Speedmaster DI press is no where near ready for sale or production. However, the Karat is "on sale" this week at IPEX. Printers have been urged to "bring their checkbooks". This has giving Scitex a strong lead in the race to provide a larger format DI press to market. Scott's reporting that Heidelberg has been experiencing problems with the configuration of the CREO laser on the Speedmaster 74-DI is most correct and does agree with my research. Problems are still on-going. What is seen this week at IPEX is NOT what Heidelberg will finally produce. IMO and that of others, Presstek remains in the drivers seat on this issue and is positioned to take advantage of Heidelbergs need. However, it is the plates where the true bulk of Presstek income will be obtained that will create ever increasing revenue and profit to the company. All DI presses, now and in future years will use Presstek plates. So far, no other plate manufacturer has developed a similar usable plate for DI presses. With the huge move to digital production in the printing process, it is expected that many other press manufacturers will also develop their own DI press, either using Presstek laser technology or Presstek licensing, but most certainly Presstek's plates. I too, share Scott's opinion that Presstek must always protect their proprietary position, as it relates to technology for direct imaging on-press. To lose this source of future compensation by allowing any manufacturer to by-pass it, would be very detrimental in my opinion. Neil