Scitex claims its focus on digital printing and ink-jet technology is bearing fruit after reporting increased revenues for Scitex Digital Printing (SDP) and Scitex Vision.


Total sales for the first quarter were 45m ($64.1m), with SDPs sales up 15% to 29m and Scitex Vision recording a 33% rise to 16m.


But the group made a net loss of 8.5m, due mainly to a 6.7m loss in its equity investment in Creo Products.


Scitex Digital Printings project with British Telecom for the printing of bills and statements is now live at BTs Milton Keynes print centre.


We have just replaced the old systems with ours, said SDP European sales director John Godwin (pictured), who added that customers would soon start receiving bills printed on the machines.


The order was for eight Scitex VersaMark MPS 90/500 ink-jet print lines to replace 20 IBM and Hitachi laser printers at Milton Keynes and another site at Gateshead (PrintWeek, 3 November 2000).


The 2000ppm systems will print black and white and spot colours to start.


Godwin described Xeroxs deal to become a reseller of SDPs VersaMark presses (PrintWeek, 23 March) as added value for both companies.


Its like having another salesforce, he added.


Xerox will nominate a limited number of its corporate customers that are prospects for digital presses. It will target customers ranging from corporations like Swedish Post through to printers.


Swedish Posts VersaMark, which it installed in January, should be in full production by next month.


And the partnership has also generated another sale worth approximately 2.8m to a major European financial institution.


Story by Gordon Carson