Heidelberg Selects Questra to Power New Generation of Web-based Remote Service in Prepress, Press and Postpress
DUSSELDORF, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 6, 2004--Questra announced today that Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg), the world's leading solutions provider of the print media industry, will power its new generation of Web-based remote service using Questra intelligent device management (IDM) software. The announcement was made at drupa 2004, the printing industry's largest event, which takes place from May 6 to 19 in Dusseldorf, Germany.
Questra won the partner selection competition by delivering IDM software for the product lines in prepress, press and postpress on one massively scalable deployment. Heidelberg migrated its existing remote service offering to the Questra technology platform in order to introduce new IDM-based service approaches such as machine-generated alarms and proactive monitoring for predictive maintenance.
The large-scale project will automate service processes using the Internet to bind Heidelberg's strong regional service organizations into a global expert network providing a follow-the-sun-concept.
"Heidelberg, traditionally excellent in both on-site and remote service, delivers the best-in-class service for our customers. Questra, our partner for the new Web-based generation, fits this expectation level. At Heidelberg we are putting the emphasis on applications which safeguard and enhance the competitiveness of our customers," said Tom Oelsner, Program Director, Remote Service. "IDM will reduce unforeseen downtime, which will increase the productivity of our equipment and the profitability of our customers."
The Questra IDM solution includes enterprise platform software, server-based applications, agents loaded into in-field devices, and connectors that interface with enterprise applications and wireless devices. The high-performance Questra architecture supports massively scalable deployments.
"Heidelberg is a leader in bringing the benefits of intelligent device management to its printing industry customers. Web-based remote service will revolutionize the delivery of high-uptime, high-reliability printing, and Questra is the software provider of choice for IDM," said Jim Gagnard, Questra president and CEO.
At drupa2000 Heidelberg showed the remote service program for product lines in prepress, press and postpress based on an advanced tool set for remote access of the service organization. In 2003 the new Web-based generation of remote service was announced in the prepress area, where the demand and the success rate of remote support is traditionally high. Today Heidelberg enlarges the Web-based remote service in scope and technology to provide the whole solution for its customers.
About Heidelberg (www.heidelberg.com)
Heidelberg is the world's leading solutions provider of the print media industry with 22.782 employees in 170 countries. Headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany, the company manufactures sheetfed presses, as well as prepress and postpress devices. Heidelberg has by far the largest manufacturing and support network in the industry with 250 support centers worldwide providing 240,000 customers with service and knowledge. The company generates 85% of its sales through its own sales companies and 87% of its sales abroad. For the fiscal year 2003/2004 preliminary sales by the Heidelberg Group were around Euro 3,661 billion.
About Questra (www.questra.com)
Questra Corporation, www.questra.com, is an enterprise software company leading the development of intelligent device management solutions. The company's remote diagnostic and monitoring applications collect data from medical instruments, printing equipment, power monitors, and other remote devices. Equipment manufacturers and their customers using the Questra Smart Service Solution lower their service costs through reduced emergency calls, proactive device monitoring and diagnostics, and streamlined accounting for consumables and usage. Equipment manufacturers such as GE Healthcare, Diagnostic Products Corp., Eaton Corp.'s Cutler-Hammer business, Swissray International, and eBidenergy use Questra. Questra is headquartered in Redwood City, CA.
Contacts
For Questra
Leslie Schroeder, 415-999-1394
leslie@schroederpr.com
or
Heidelberg
Matthias Hartung, 06221 92 5077
Matthias.hartung@heidelberg.com
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