Xerox is to bring forward the introduction of FutureColor, its next- generation colour digital printing technology.


It is a shot across the bows of Heidelberg and its launch of the NexPress 2100 this year.


"FutureColor is not a challenger to the NexPress, its in a new category in terms of speed, features and quality," claimed Xerox Europe corporate PR manager Joseph Kelly.


Originally slated for release "in two to three years", the firm is promising early units will be installed at customer sites before the end of this year.


"Its ahead of what we said at Drupa," said Kelly. "Theres been good progress in its development and now were increasing R&D. The success of the DocuColor 2000 has given the impetus to boost research and development for the FutureColor."


R&D spending rose 11% in the last quarter to fuel developments in produc-tion colour including the FutureColor project.


Xerox has shipped 1,900 units of the DocuColor 2000 series since its launch, beating the firms projections by 25%. Of those half are in Europe, including between 200 and 300 in the UK.


"We call the DocuColor 2000 the now press because its available and its what customers want," said Kelly.


Details of the products to be based on FutureColor technology remain sketchy. The only firm detail is that like the NexPress it is designed to produce 1m impressions per month, unlike current colour digital presses, which produce around 300,000.


Xerox says that the system is designed to operate at a far lower cost than current digital presses and will mix mono and colour printing and different stock to produce finished documents.


Story by Barney Cox