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

To: Mad2 who wrote (9993)	9/25/1998 11:24:00 AM
From: Steve Andrew	Respond to of 11098

Mad2..... Well said. Nearly everyone on this thread would certainly agree that Scotty Boy doesn't appreciate any opinion that may serve to balance his slanted presentation of the positive esoteric for PRST. His analysis fails to expand beyond that singular dimension and he agressively attacks those who do not agree with his statements. He, unfortunately, cries rapidly about flames yet is willing to quickly flame those short this stock. Fortunately, and PROFITABLY, the rest of us retain our balance and perspective. He is a troubled investor to say the least. His style of investing leaves much to be desired and is so emotionally-biased....he'll likely never learn, however, his diatribes are very funny and humor is vital here. Steve

To: Mad2 who wrote (9993)	9/25/1998 1:43:00 PM
From: SG	Respond to of 11098

Mad2, 1. Fuji in an OEM with PRST on PRST equipment and plates. 2. Fuji paying PRST for engineering fees on a yet to be determined project. 3. Delta V and Battelle working on a joint venture to market, make and sell equipment AND technology in the thin film industry. 4. Huge increase in non-Heiedleberg products (thank goodness) to offset the slow down in Heidelberg orders. I have kept an open mind with many on this thread. I will not defend my position or my methods with those that choose to take a more agressive path. I hope that you and I can maintain an open and honest dialoge about the future. There are many here that cannot. I have looked at all of the sides of this coin and maintain a vigil on all issues. I choose to talk about the up coming alliances and products and why we are in the slow earnings period that we are in. We are yet to see the final results of Heidelberg and its choice to not use PRST equipment on the SM-74. Right now they are using PRST plates and will hopefully be paying for PRST "DI" technology in the not to distant future. Heidelberg is not the only press manufacturer in the world. Failure to understand the other PRST alliances in the printing industry would show a certain lack of understanding in that regard. Go Scitex SG

To: Mad2 who wrote (9993)	9/25/1998 2:09:00 PM
From: NEIL MACK	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 11098

Info from IPEX.... To early to learn much on actual sales numbers of presses and products using Presstek technology at IPEX.....However, I have learned from printers presently attending the following: 1. The HDP Imation/PEARL Presstek proofer is receiving exceptional interest and sales are occuring at all 3 booths showing live demonstrations of the units. Comment was that Presstek still needs to speed up the proofing time. Seems that using the CREO Trendsetter as a dedicated proofer (the only other imaging unit approved by Imation) is a major drawback to the purchase of this unit for proofing purposes. Of course, the other drawback is price of the CREO unit is much higher than Presstek's PEARL HDP. The advantage of the CREO is that it is fully automated while Presstek's is manual. It is believed that unless the Printer has substantial need to use his HDP proofing unit contantly for contract proofing, CREO will be bypassed for the Presstek manual unit. Also, Presstek provides a platesetter, 50% off normal price when the proofer is purchased. This platesetter images to the press an exact copy of the proof. CREO cannot achieve this feat without a printer paying nearly 3 times Presstek's price. It's figured that their return-on-investment to the printer, using the CREO unit without cost of manpower for a manual system, it would still take far longer than PEARL to break even, even taking into account that PEARL requires a worker to be available to load and feed the material. Presstek is now able to market the PEARL HDP unit, using European color format, which was just perfected by Imation. Use of coloring in Europe is different than North America and the proofer was not available outside of N.A. until this technology was provided at the show. This opens up a new market and new surge of sales. It is thought that new estimates for 1998 sales, are expected between 100 and 150 units (Pittman believes the total could reach 200). This could all add nicely to the early Presstek previous sales estimates. I do not believe the HDP units expected sales, were anticipated anywhere near the numbers actually selling, therefore additional profits are not included in Presstek's early projections for earnings. 2. PEARLgold (processless plate) is attracting huge printer interest at all booths showing the plate. Many questions are being asked about the use of the plate at the sights using the plate on press. Full commercial availability is anxiously being awaited by the users. I have learned that presently, printers are signing up for samples of the plate material. This quote was on-line regarding thermal plates....(Some 400 European printers met last year to discuss ctp and gave their support to daylight imaging and thermal technology. Those favouring thermal have been calling for a 1068nm plate. (Presstek PEARLgold does this without processing) Henrik Kattrup, vice-president of corporate marketing at Purup-Eskofot says: 'We believe that thermal technology will eventually provide the best solution.' Once these plates are available, says Kattrup: 'The potential of thermal, and perhaps also that of ctp, will finally be realised.' 3. The "new" Quickmaster DI+, with all the new bells and whistles, is also being purchased from Heidelberg at IPEX. No idea of numbers, however, I was told that the present QMDI intstalled total, is now "just under 800 worldwide, with over 800 sold." I was also told that "Heidelberg expected that the IPEX show will market a good percentage of the remaining inventory." 4. The Speedmaster 74-DI appears to be a big hit with printers.....(Only plate is Presstek.) The following was copied from Dot Print on-line: First order for Speedmaster 74DI by Gareth Ward FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 25 Swift Brochures, Manchester, the first company to acquire a Quickmaster, is first again with the 74DI, the centerpiece of Heidelberg¹s giant hall and a half display at Ipex. Despite its new stance as a "systems provider", Heidelberg is concentrating on the launch of the Speedmaster 74DI, its B2 digital press - though the introduction of CPC2000 as the interface to run all Heidelberg's future presses, may prove more significant. The 74DI is being demonstrated to show digital imaging of a B2 press is possible. Indeed, using the system that Heidelberg has adopted for this machine, larger formats become equally feasible. The Speedmaster 74DI has a Creo imaging system that has a single laser head providing 200 beams travelling along the cylinder. It would be a question of economics rather than mechanics to move the laser across a wider measure. The Presstek imaging system used on the Quickmaster DI uses an array of lasers moving a fixed distance. The greater the format, the more lasers are required, making this system too expensive in larger sizes. On the 74DI, the imaging unit can be swung away, in what Heidelberg calls its "London Bridge design", to allow access to blankets and dampening system. The plates used on the stand and in initial installations are Presstek Gold as this is the only plate as yet offering ablative imaging. 5. Have learned that the KBA/Scitex 74 Karat Press is selling very well......as this show is the first time printers are able to purchase. (No recent press release from IPEX yet) There is no exact number of sales, however, after two days, all I could get from the "Karat Press Spokesperson" was "We're overwhelmed with the response to the Karat." (Also an exclusive Presstek plate user.) Have not been able to determine the price of the 74 Karat press, as compared to the Heidelberg Speedmaster 74-DI or Quickmaster DI pricing. More to come..... Neil