KBA is unlikely to be able to sell the 46 Karat DI press in the UK and the Republic of Ireland due to the nature of Pressteks OEM agreement for the machine.

Ryobi, which makes the mechanical parts of the press, has rights to sell the machine and Presstek has the rights to OEM the press to one vendor in any geographic region.

"The OEM agreement belongs to Presstek and Xerox has UK rights and privileges," said Presstek vice president sales and marketing Efrem Lieber.

In the UK and the USA Xerox has the OEM agreement to sell the machine as the DocuColor DI 233, sold in the UK by Litho Supplies.

KBA and Presstek recently announced the 46 Karat would be available in Europe via KBA (PrintWeek, 19 October). At the time KBA UK said it was finalising legal details to sell the press in the UK and was focusing on Ireland.

"Were trying to protect our customers, in this case Ry-Offset and Xerox," said Lieber. "The worse thing that can happen is for another player to come in."

KBA UK managing director Christian Knapp said: "My interpretation is that it is a legal issue and discussions are continuing between KBA and Presstek. Im optimistic that we will sell the press."

Knapp was also adamant that KBA had rights to sell the press in Ireland, where it already has a couple of potential sales.

"The Republic of Ireland is not listed in its [KBAs] territory," said Lieber. "But Ill never say never and I admire the aggressiveness."

Story by Barney Cox