New Lyra Report Examines Acquisition Fever in Commercial Printer Market: Lyra Research Studies How Digital Imaging is Transforming the Commercial Printing Landscape

Lyra Researchs new report, "Commercial Printing: An Overview of Production and Wide-Format," is essential reading for vendors in the commercial printing market. The report focuses on key trends in commercial printing, including sharp increases in sales of eco-solvent or mild solvent wide-format printers, declining prices for wide-format devices, and inexpensive Chinese wide-format printer products entering the European and U.S. markets. On the narrow-format side, acquisitions by key players have taken center stage.

NEWTONVILLE, MA (PRWEB) May 18, 2005 -- Lyra Researchs new report, "Commercial Printing: An Overview of Production and Wide-Format," investigates whats behind the rapid shift to digital imaging technologies in the commercial printer market. The new report, part of the "2005 Imaging Symposium Series," finds that several major printing and photography companies have entered the commercial digital printing market through acquisitions. Three of the first firms to enter this way include HP, with its acquisition of Indigo; Océ, which acquired Raster Graphics; and Kodak, with its acquisitions of Encad and Scitex Digital.

(See Chart Below)

Lloyd Grey" Held, principal analyst for Lyras Wide-Format Production Printing Advisory Service, comments on Kodaks aggressive tactics. With its acquisition of NexPress, Kodak Polychrome Graphics, and Creo in 2004 and 2005, Kodak has demonstrated that it plans to have a long-term, strategic stake in the commercial printer market. Its a clear indicator of the rapidly growing importance of this segment of the digital printing industry."

About the Report: The commercial market has long favored traditional, nondigital printing processes such as offset and screen printing, but it is now shifting rapidly to digital technology. Required reading for commercial printing vendors, this new report focuses on key trends in the market, including sharp increases in sales of eco-solvent or mild solvent wide-format printers, declining prices for wide-format devices, inexpensive Chinese wide-format printer products entering the European and U.S. markets, and acquisitions by key players in the narrow-format market. The $299 report provides vendors with an indispensable and in-depth look at both wide-format and narrow-format commercial printing markets. More information on the report is available at www.lyra.com or by calling 617-454-2612.

About Lyra Research

Founded in 1991, Lyra Research is recognized worldwide as the leading provider of market, product, and technology information and analysis focused on the imaging industry. Lyra Research provides targeted information on printers and copiers, digital photography, and imaging supplies to more than 2,000 clients in more than 40 countries. Lyras portfolio of services includes leading industry newsletters, special market reports, advisory services, conferences, Webcasts, and custom consulting.

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Chart: Commercial (Production) Printing and the Digital Transition: Acquisitions

Oce: RasterGraphics

HP: Indigo

Kodak: Encad, Scitex Digital, NexPress, KPG, Creo

Agfa: Dotrix

Ricoh: Hitachi Printing Solutions

Fujifilm: Sericol

Key: (Buyer): (Acquired firm(s))

Source: Lyra Research, Inc.

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Contact:

Andre Rebelo

Marketing Manager

Lyra Research, Inc.

617-454-2658

arebelo at lyra dot com

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