The agreement was announced May 1 by ECRM President and CEO Rick Black. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed and are to remain confidential. Under the terms of the agreement, ECRM has acquired the assets, including intangible assets and intellectual property of its polyester plate equipment business.
“Over the last four years ECRM has designed, developed, and introduced a complete line of violet CTP machines for both commercial printers and newspapers world-wide, and we recently announced that we have now shipped our 1000th CTP unit,” says Black.
“This acquisition of the Esko-Production CTP product line allows us to better serve our customers with an even wider portfolio of products covering additional segments of the printing and publishing markets. We are impressed with the sales and service organisation in place and we plan to continue working with the current Esko Production channel partners under the ECRM brand.
“Our vision for ECRM is to be the value leader in the industry by delivering high-quality, reliable equipment that not only meets our customers’ production requirements, but ensures an attractive return on investment. We believe this acquisition is another step forward in establishing our leadership role in the industry.”
Says Esko Production’s Torben Rysgaard who will continue to be responsible for the polyester business, “Esko Production is confident that this agreement secures a strong home for the future of the polyester technology, which has been developed during the last 10 years. The fit between the ECRM CTP business and the Polyester CTP business from Esko Production is excellent. We look forward to serving our current customer base of many thousands of users even better.”
The DPX 4 CTP is a full-daylight operating, high-precision internal-vacuum drum system featuring fast, highly-accurate punched and processed polyester plates ready for press. Using fibre optic cables to transmit directly into the optics and high-speed spinner, it can output 38 745mm x 605mm plates per hour at 1200 dpi (27 plates per hour at 2540 dpi). The DPX 4 exposes at any resolution between 1200 and 3000 dpi, automatically and dynamically adjusting the spot size
by varying laser intensity and focus, resulting in optimum optical quality and high-quality prints. The
DPX 4, with a footprint of only 1370mm x 1060mm (54″ x 42″), includes a built-in twin-bath
processor (a temperature controlled activator tank and a stabilizer tank). Both tanks have sensors
for controlling the chemistry level and active replenishment, ensuring the correct level of new
chemistry in the tanks and precise activation of the polyester plate.
About DPX System
The DPX System is also a full-daylight operated system. It features an internal vacuum drum
system with a built-in 220 and 425mm open punch for producing high-quality and preciselyregistered
plates for four-color production. It produces imaged, processed, punched, dried and cutto-
size ready-to-use plates. The DPX System also features two magazines and a built-in two-bath
processor. The maximum plate size is 550mm x 460mm and minimum size is 250mm x 250mm.
The DPX System can image at resolutions from 900 to 3600 dpi.
About DPX Lite…
The DPX Lite is a 2-up, highly-productive, full-day-light operating, automatic CTP polyester-plate
system, producing imaged, processed, punched, dried and cut-to-size press-ready plates at 340mm
x 550mm (13.3” x 21.6”). It offers users internal-drum technology, a built-in 220mm open punch,
and a temperature-controlled built-in processor. And DPX Lite exposes at any resolution between
900 and 3600dpi. DPX Lite was launched at PRINT 2005 and began shipping Q4, 2005.
About WorkMates…
The WorkMates software is a suite of high performing workflow modules. The modules include a
RIP, automated PDF creation, Trapping, Color Management, Screening and Proofing, as well as In-
RIP CIP 3 generation, Imposition, and Windows driver-based proofing. All modules offer a high
degree of automation and productivity. Coming soon is also a remote-queue management system
that will provide job handling, a color-merger tool, preview with full zoom and navigation and direct
log-on from any workstation on the network.
About ECRM…
ECRM Imaging Systems is a global leader in imaging technologies for the graphic communications
industry. For over three decades ECRM has successfully applied a broad range of optical, imaging,
laser, and digital-electronic technologies to meet the business needs of its customers. The
Massachusetts-based company has sold and supported more than 1,000 computer-to-plate devices
and over 27,000 imagesetters in more than 78 countries around the world. An ISO 9001:2000
certified company, ECRM is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards in research and
development, design, manufacturing, quality, service, and support. www.ecrm.com
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Copyright 2006. All brand names are the property of their respective owners and may or may not be trademarked.
Press Contacts…
Derek Sizer Torben Rysgaard Ben Dodson
ECRM Vice President VP Polyester CTP Division Account Director, Bespoke
T: +44 1923 218255 ECRM, Incorporated T: +44 1737 215200
E: d_sizer@ecrm.com T: + 45 44 73 68 70 E: ben@bespoke.co.uk
E: t_rysgaard@ecrm.com
554 Clark Road Tewksbury, MA 01876
Tel: 978-851-0207 Fax: 978-851-7016
FAQ Sheet regarding the ECRM acquisition of Esko Production A/S
Business Questions
Q: What exactly is ECRM acquiring?
A: ECRM will acquire the polyester CTP prepress business of from Esko Production A/S. This deal does not
affect the Esko-Graphics packaging product lines or operations. The product lines ECRM has acquired
are the DPX polyester CTP offerings (DPX 4, DPX System and DPX Lite), the WorkMates workflow
solution, and all other related prepress products and materials. ECRM’s acquisition includes all assets,
associated patents and licenses, intellectual property, service agreements, and distribution agreements.
Product Questions
Q: Do you see any overlap in products, especially in 2-up and 4-up CTP offerings?
A: The polyester CTP line will complement ECRM’s Violet CTP solutions by providing a broader product
line of offerings in the 2-up and 4-up market.
Q: How will your own R&D be affected?
A: We feel there will be considerable synergy between the research and engineering operations of the
two companies and will give both greater access to broader technology and experience.
Sales & Marketing Questions
Q: Is ECRM planning on any branding changes, either for the acquired products or ECRM’s?
A: We plan to keep the DPX brands, which have a strong position in the marketplace. We plan to
replace the Esko Production brand with the ECRM brand on the acquired products. Before making
any other changes we plan to consult with customers and channel partners to ensure that anything
we do will have a positive impact on both sales and brand awareness.
Q: How does this acquisition fit with your strategy?
A: The acquisition folds nicely into our strategy of providing tailored solutions for commercial printers
and newspapers. More and more, small to mid-size printers are adopting CTP into their digital
prepress. As a leader in developing imaging technologies for over 35 years, the addition of devices
that image polyester media is a natural fit to complement our leading Violet CTP solutions.
Q: How will the acquisition affect existing Esko-Production customers?
A: ECRM, together with our channel partners, will continue to service the current polyester CTP
business customers of Esko-Production as they have in the past.
Q: In terms of distribution channels, how will the new products be marketed?
A: ECRM plans to maintain the distribution channels currently in place for the Esko- Production
polyester CTP business.
Q: What about the sales and marketing staff?
A: ECRM is impressed with the competence of the existing sales and marketing staff. It is our intention
that they will operate as a separate division within ECRM.
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