Xerox and Kodak Polychrome Graphics have announced the end of its reseller agreement in the United States under which KPG sells Xerox mid-range and entry level production equipment and related products, effective January 1, 2004. KPG will discontinue sales of the Xerox DocuColor 2045/2060/6060/5252 digital colour presses, and the Xerox DocuColor 3535 and DocuColor 12 colour copier-printers. Xerox will continue to market to its customers the Kodak Polychrome Graphics Matchprint Professional Server as a colour front end, which the two companies co-displayed at PrintEx03.
This is the latest step in what Eastman Kodak, of which Kodak Polychrome Graphics is a co-owned subsidiary with Sun Chemical, has termed its new focus on digital commercial printing, which was underscored recently by its acquisition of Scitex Digital Printing and its involvement with Heidelberg in the development of the NexPress.
The agreement to end the relationship is said, by both parties, to be an amicable one.
John Schloff, KPG staff vice president of digital printing, says, "We have had an excellent partnership with Xerox, and we will make sure that customers needs are fully served during this transition.
"Both companies have determined that the time is right to pursue alternate strategies. KPG has a full range of digital solutions for customers, and we remain committed to widening those options as our customers transition to, or expand, digital technologies in their workflows."
Under the reseller agreement, KPG is responsible for the sale of the equipment, and Xerox is responsible for service support. After January 1, Xerox will continue to be responsible for service as well as systems analyst support of equipment that was sold by KPG.
Valerie Blauvelt, Xerox Production Systems Group, vice president of marketing, says, "We’ve worked well with the management team at KPG. Xerox will ensure ongoing support for those customers who purchased through KPG and we will continue to look at ways to expand the availability of our products."
