FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15, 2003

Drytac Acquires Hot Press, Inc.

Connecticut - Drytac Corporation has acquired the North American operations of Hot Press, Inc., an internationally respected manufacturer of heated clear glass-top vacuum presses. Through this acquisition, Drytac will secure the exclusive rights to the Hot Press brand of hot vacuum presses in North America.

According to the company, this strategic move is in response to the growing use of digital printing technology for in-house corporate, fine art, photography and other lower volume applications. Although the introduction of high-quality, medium format inkjet printers has enabled this process, the challenge of laminating, mounting and finishing such graphic products has lagged behind. Drytac management believes that the Hot Press vacuum press provides a viable alternative to roller laminators due to less demanding training requirements. Not only is the Hot Press easier to use than a roller laminator, it also offers a lower error rate.

Hot Press vacuum presses have gained a large following among picture framers, gicleé houses, reprographers and photo labs due to their patented heated glass top design, which ensures excellent adhesion when dry mounting and unequaled even surface finish when overlaminating. The glass top presses also allow work to be monitored while being processed, avoiding costly errors due to misalignment or print corners folding back on themselves. The series is available in formats from 29” x 41” (720mm x 1040mm) to 56” x 103” (1422mm x 2615mm).

As the world’s largest manufacturer of dry mounting tissues and heatset overlaminate films, Drytac is well positioned to further enhance the visibility of the Hot Press brand in North America. “The Hot Press line of hot vacuum presses will allow us to be a true one stop resource for framing and dry mounting businesses of any size,” says Marc Oosterhuis, President of Drytac. “It will also allow us to introduce further efficiencies in our product development and testing initiatives.”

Existing Hot Press customers can expect continued seamless service, an expanded range of dry mounting and laminating supplies and vastly improved distribution and support due to Drytac’s six stocking locations throughout the continent. Company officials indicate that Drytac will also add the Hot Press models to its ongoing training seminars, which are held at all locations throughout the year.

Drytac Corporation is headquartered in Richmond, VA, with US stocking locations in Richmond; Dallas; Chicago; Los Angeles and Seattle. The company's international operations include Drytac Canada Inc. in Toronto and Drytac Europe Limited in Bristol, England.

Drytac Corporation
Contact: Sue Doyon
E-Mail: suedoyon@drytac.com
Website URL: www.drytac.com