Xerox customers will also not be tied down to using Spire. The Xerox DocuSP will also be available.
The agreement was announced as the latest research from US consultancy IT Strategies predicted a boom in worldwide sales from "colour electrophotographic hardwareproduction and light production printing systems".
The sector, which includes the Xerox DocuColor 2060 and iGen3, would grow from revenues (comprising chemistry, media and hardware sales) of 3.4bn ($5.5bn) in 2001 to over 8.4bn by 2006, it forecast.
Clear user trends were emerging, particularly shorter run lengths, cheaper systems, and the transfer of work to less expensive "light production printing systems", such as the Docu-Color 2060, reducing growth in the high-end digital press segment, which includes the iGen3 and NexPress.
Xerox DocuColor product marketing manager Kevin O'Donnell said that although the predicted growth seemed a large jump, new technologies would provide a major impetus.
"If we can deliver on productivity, and produce equipment at the right price, then I see no reason why manufacturers should not achieve these sort of growth values," he added.
Story by Andy Scott
