Rimage Corporation announced its new Perfect Image Producer line of CD-R disc publishing and duplication systems is now shipping.
Unedited press release follows:
First Product in New Rimage CD-R Publishing Line is Announced and Available for Shipping
Minneapolis, MN — August 5, 1996 — The first product in a new line of network-compatible digital information publishing systems, which will make CD-R production as simple as using a laser printer, was announced today by Rimage Corporation and is now available for shipping.
Developed and manufactured by Rimage, The Perfect Image ProducerTM line will allow users to automate recording and surface printing of unique CD-Rs or replicate multiple CD-Rs in an unattended environment.
The turn-key system will enable corporate and government users to create CD-Rs on demand for data-intensive applications. (See Applications Backgrounder)
The first model is priced at $25,995 and is a single-drive unit which consists of the Automation StationTM (AS), and a specially-configured high performance control center. The Automation Station (AS) houses a 4X CD recorder, transport robotics, and a thermal-transfer surface printer housed in a compact enclosure. The control center is a specially configured high-performance PC which ensures an uninterrupted data flow. The package also includes Rimage’s proprietary software that manages the Automation Station premastering, recording and surface printing functions.
The optional Automation Protocol software enables network users to manage multiple unique recording jobs from any node on the network. Priced at $1,500, the Automation Protocol software option would be valuable to anyone who requires automatic data and image retrieval with output to CD-R for transaction-based documents such as phone bills, credit card, mutual fund, pension and brokerage firm statements.
“The first Perfect Image Producer model rounds out the publishing and duplication products line by providing a lower-priced solution for our customers and is upgradeable. Future models will feature multiple recorders,” according to Mac McCorkle, Vice President, Marketing for Rimage Corporation. “In addition, our customers requested the ability to migrate to a higher performance solution as their business requirements change, and now they can.”
As the latest of Rimage’s digital publishing product offerings, the first Producer model will complement the current high-end, Perfect Image CD-R Automated Publishing System (APS). The APS consists of proprietary control software, and the Rimage in-line Printer connected to a Kodak Disc Transporter. The APS features the Kodak 6X drive and therefore is in a higher price category than the initial Perfect Image Producer model. Future job management software will allow the Producer Systems and APS to function together in a production environment.
“The ability to simultaneously record and label CD-Rs is a huge productivity gain for any information-intensive business or government agency. The beauty of the system lies in the flexibility of its on-demand information publishing capabilities, which automates CD-R production from the user’s own network or manufacturing process.” McCorkle explained.
The Perfect Image Producer supports the ISO 9660 format for premastering and will also copy mode 1 single-track data format. Future models will support Red Book audio and other formats.
Minneapolis-based Rimage was founded in 1987 and has service, sales and manufacturing facilities in Boulder, CO; Mountain View, CA; Dietzenbach, Germany and a new office in Singapore. Among the company’s major products are digital publishing systems, diskette and CD-ROM duplication systems for unique and large quantity applications, labelers and finishing equipment, CD-ROM printing systems and tape duplication systems.