Rimage Corporation announced its new Perfect Image Producer line of CD-R duplication and publishing systems at SIGCAT 1996.
Unedited press release follows:
Revolutionary New CD-R Product Line Announced by Rimage at SIGCAT Show
Washington, DC, May 21, 1996 — A new generation of digital information publishing systems, which will allow users to automate recording and surface printing of unique CD-Rs or replicate single CD-Rs in an unattended environment, was announced today at the Sigcat Show by Rimage Corporation. These network compatible and stand-alone systems are the first to completely integrate the components required to publish digital information onto CD-R discs — recording, handling and surface printing.
Developed and manufactured by Rimage, The Perfect Image Producer™ line will enable corporate and government users to create CD-Rs on demand for data-intensive applications such as software distribution, corporate credit card statements, payroll registers, benefits statements, computer-based training, archiving, information distribution, cable TV accounts, and phone bills, etc. “Build-to-order” information from libraries and for-charge information services, mailing lists and software updates are also common applications.
A prototype Beta version of the first model (RPI-1) in the Perfect Image Producer line will be demonstrated in the Rimage booth during the Sigcat Show. Scheduled for shipment in the third quarter of this year, Model RPI-1 consists of the Automation Station™, Automation Protocol™, and a specially-configured high performance PC. The Automation Station (AS) houses a single 4x CD recorder, transport robotics, and thermal transfer surface printer in a single streamlined unit. The Automation Protocol (AP) offers a standardized protocol which makes it easy to automate any CD-R publishing application. The AP includes Rimage’s powerful, proprietary premastering, recording and surface printing software capabilities. Future models in the Perfect Image Producer line will feature a capacity for multiple recorders and increased performance. The RPI-1 debut unit will be upgradeable.
“The Perfect Image Producer was designed to provide customers with a lower cost alternative to our existing automated high-end solution,” 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.”
The Perfect Image Producer becomes the latest member in the Rimage Digital Publishing Architecture™ and will be marketed along with their current high-end, Perfect Image CD-R Automated Publishing System (APS). The APS consists of proprietary control software, and the Rimage DT Printer option 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.
“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.
Unique information publishing allows the user to customize and then electronically publish information “on demand” onto a CD-R disc, including a custom printed label for proper identification. The Automation Protocol software handles all file transfers, premastering, recording and surface printing in a continuous, uninterrupted flow.
The Perfect Image Producer supports the ISO 9660 format for premastering and will also copy any single-track data formats. Future models will support audio (Red Book) and multimedia 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. For product information in the U.S. call (800) 445-8288, (612) 944-8144 or fax (612) 944-7808.