Kern Introduces Several New Inserting, Folding and Print-on-Demand Solutions; Explosion of Technology, Partnering Unveiled at Xplor 2002.

Business Editors and High-Tech Writers

Xplor 2002

Booth 654

COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 28, 2002

Kern International, a leading provider of world-class inserters, pre and post processing systems and Open Automated Document Factory (ADF) solutions, debuts several new and innovative products at the 23rd annual Xplor Conference in Anaheim, California.

"Kern is committed to providing a complete range of open and modular hardware and software solutions for today's advanced mailer", said Steve Watters, General Manager of Kern International. "And we leverage the power of our products through aggressive partnering to offer our customers a choice of best in class solutions."

The all-new Kern 3500 is the centerpiece of the Kern exhibit at Xplor 2002. The system, operating at production speeds of 22,000 filled envelopes per hour, is capable of processing document collations up to 6mm into a variety of business envelopes including 6"x9" and B5. The high capacity envelope and insert feeders ensure that the Kern 3500 is not just fast, it's productive. Linear paper flow combined with a funnel-like inserting pocket ensures that documents are inserted into the envelope with a high degree of accuracy and reliability. The Kern 3500 on display at this year's show features a Videk InViziCode(TM) reader, enabling intelligent document processing and tracking using a rich bar code that is invisible to the unaided eye.

Officially recognized as the world's fastest inserting system by the Guinness Book of World Records, the Kern 3000 on display at Xplor 2002 will feature several ergonomic upgrades and productivity enhancements. Sharing many features of the new Kern 3500, upgrades including high capacity envelope and insert feeders improve productivity and reduce operator fatigue. This year's show machine features DataMatrix reading as well as file-based control featuring a unique hybrid manifest mailing system. Cycling at speeds in excess of 26,000 items per hour, the Kern 3000 is not only the fastest inserter in the world, but the most productive as well.

When mid-range speeds and maximum flexibility is required, the Kern 2500 is unsurpassed. This year's show machine features the Kern Direct Input system for maximum productivity on high page count collations. With a maximum throughput speed of 12,000 cycles per hour and a maximum collation thickness of 10mm, the Kern 2500 is uniquely capable of performing a wide range of tasks with maximum flexibility. Like all Kern systems on display at Xplor this year, the Kern 2500 supports pinless feed technology to enable mailers to reduce costs through the utilization of the latest production printing technology.

The Kern Document Finishing on Demand (DFD) group unveils several new products at this year's Xplor show. The all-new Kern 146 pinless folder/stacker improves the state of the art for roll to fold printing. The Kern 146 features automatic paper load, automatic job set-up, gearless operation, pinless or pin-fed operation, and an advanced web buffer between the printer and folder. In addition, the system optionally features automatic bursting for job separation, a drop stacker, side trimming, auto-load with auto restart, forms transport, and a turnover to enable an in-line connection to an inserter.

The Kern DFD Insert-on-Demand(TM) solution offers an innovative approach to enable the production of time sensitive or quick turnaround inserts. Inserts, printed on a pinless Scitex VersaMark(TM) Vantage engine, are cut and optionally folded using a Kern CRV-5 high-speed rotary cutter interfaced to a high capacity stacking table. Inserts are usually ordered weeks or even months ahead, and in most cases more inserts than necessary are ordered due to production uncertainty. The Kern DFD Insert-on-Demand(TM) solution enables the mailer to generate only those inserts that are needed on a "just-in-time" basis with tremendous speed to market.

To ensure smooth operation, the Kern 100 roll unwinding module features a new and unique inserter interface for increased productivity when used with the entire Kern range of high speed inserting systems. Should the inserter stop, the roll device will smoothly rewind the paper to ensure that the web is under positive control at all times. Further, the entire inserting line can be controlled from the unwinding module, increasing productivity and reducing operator fatigue.

Visitors to Booth 654 will see a wide variety of partnerships on display. Those in the banking industry will appreciate the totally new Vision System(TM), on display from Kern and Longford International. Unlike other systems, the Vision System(TM) positively matches returned checks with a banking statement by reading the MICR line rather than a simple item count. When integrated with Kern's intelligent inserting capabilities, this allows banks to make better decisions about returned items and reduces re-work due to item miscounts or for items that were known to be missing after the statement was rendered.

Kern is also pleased to announce that it has formed a strategic alliance with Sefas Innovation to offer Open Print products as modular components of the Kern Orchestra product suite. This will allow Kern to offer high value end-to-end solutions in complex ADF environments, and enables customers to select a wide range of best in class components from a single vendor. Kern is proud that the applications on display in the booth are composed using Sefas Open Print Studio and printed by Oce', Nipson and Scitex. Machine vision provided is by Videk and Longford International, and FirstLogic provides postal manifesting software.

About Kern International

Kern International is the US subsidiary of Kern AG, founded in Konolfingen Switzerland in 1947. The company is a leading provider of world-class inserters, pre and post processing systems and open ADF solutions. Kern has a long history of innovation and technical excellence, and today we offer the world's fastest inserter as well as open and modular ADF solutions and innovative pre and post processing technologies.

For more information about Kern International visit www.kerninc.com.