The Micrographics Market Place 010

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the market place | NEWS OF THE MICROFILM INDUSTRY

M AY/JUN E 1 9 8 8 No~10

DatagraphiX Open Day I was invited down to their Milton Keynes office on the 17th May. Finally, after negotiating the highly confusing MK grid system, I arrived to a very cordial welcome from Alan Weselby. I was then treated to a very interesting presentation regarding the overall structure of the micrographics industry as seen through the eyes of DatagraphiX managing director, Roger Smith. ,1987 was certainly an amazingly eventful year for DatagraphiX March - Anacomp Inc. purchases DatagraphiX Inc. July - Anacomp Inc. purchases Consolidated Micrographics Inc. and places them under DatagraphiX control.

October —Anacomp Inc. purchases COM Division of Bell & Howell and puts under DatagraphiX control.

When you are then informed that Anacomp Inc. is the world’s largest bureau, DatagraphiX the world’s largest COM manufacturer, Consolidated Micrographics the world’s largest duplicator manufacturer and Bell & Howell a very significant force generally in COM you cannot help but be impressed by the conglomerate now created.

The range of products now on offer from CM/DatagraphiX is quite impressive. There is, particularly with the lower priced equipment (Readers, Reader/Printers etc.), a certain amount of overlap, but a potential buyer is certainly offered considerable choice.

Microfiche camera Ideal for business records archiving, the DatagraphiX C20/20 step and repeat camera offers office based, high quality, high speed microfiching under microcomputer control. Also features automatic titling.

COM recorder

Pictured here is a group of visitors to the Milton Keynes open day admiring some of the features of a DatagraphiX COM recorder.

Contact: Alan Weselby, DatagraphiX Ltd., 55 Alston Drive, Bradwell Abbey, Milton Keynes, Bucks. MK13 9HB. Tel: (0908) 319117. Telex: 825089.

N E W PRODUCT RANGE!

The reader that prints A N SI Clips

Solid flange spools w ith built-in trailer lock

Bridging the gap between readers and reader/printers is the new low cost DataMate 10. Best described as a reader that prints, the compact unit takes no more desk space than a conventional reader and is ideal for the user with an occasional hard copy requirement.

Reader/printer The DataMate 1000 is a full specification plain paper reader/printer offering the lowest cost per copy available.

Copy speed and quality are also unequalled, yet the unit has one of the smallest footprints of any top of the range machine.

See Pages 4 - 8

for Product News

The M icrographics Market Place

16mm plastic film boxes

Available in beige, red, blue, yellow , green and black. Samples and prices available upon request.

Hammond Close. Attleborough Fields. Nuneaton, Warwickshire CV11 6RY Tel Nuneaton (0203) 383998/381196 Telex 311603 Genneg

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BELL1HOWELL The Micromedia Division of Bell and Howell now has the exclusive agency for Allen processors in the UK.

This high quality range of craftsman-built processors now has Micromedia’s full parts and service back-up, together with training on-site or at our Bicester laboratory.

For further information please call David Webb on ( 0869 ) 245711

BELL HOWELL

M ICROM ED IA DIVISION

Telford Rd, Bicester, Oxon, 0x6 OUP Tel:-(0869) 245711

PROFESSIONAL ◄ PRODUCTS • FOR ♦ THE * PROFESSIONAL • USER. The M icrographics Market Place

Editorial Content DatagraphiX Open Day . . . . . . .

Advertising Data . . . . . . . .

Product News . . . . . . .

Home News . . . . . . .

Mertec ’88 . . . . . . . .

Computer related micrographics . . . . .

International News . . . . . .

Clarify needs BEFORE buying new system - by Barry Edmonds .

Hob Cartoon . . . . . . .

Review o f T.E. A.M . Conference . . . . . .

Your Letters . . . . . . . .

Micrographics gain from Optical Disk sales drive . . . .

Application Study . . . . . . . .

For Your Diary . . . . . . . .

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Advertisers’ Index Page

Allen Microfilm Products .

Allen Products Amba Lamps Archiv ’88 . . .

Arrow Microfilm .

Bell & Howell Micromedia.

Bexley London Borough .

B. T. Micrographics Dass MicroD DatagraphiX Elke Microform .

Embassy Microfilm Genneg Associates (The Microfilm Shop) HMSL Group Imperial Data Microfilm Management Photomatrix Scan Image Data .

Solar Microfilm Equipment Top ham Film & Engineering

24 17 12 23 4 2 26 19 21 9 5, 24 7

1, U 27 22 28 25 19 13 15

Advertising Data Double Page Spread Outside Back Page Full Page Half Page Quarter Page Front Page Solus Eighth Page Classified Colour Rates

Type Area 277mm x 400mm 277mm x 190mm 277mm x 190mm 138mm x 190mm or 277mm x 93mm 138mm x 93mm or 69mm x 190mm 120mm x 93mm 69mm x 93mm 20mm x 93mm (minimum) Publisher’s Spot Colour (Cover only)

Cost £340.00 £220.00 £180.00 £ 100.00 £ 60.00 £ 75.00 £ 40.00 £ 20.00 (minimum) 20% Extra

A ll above rates are subject to V.A. T. at the current standard rate.

This magazine and the contents are the copyright o f the Publishers:- Themeprint Ltd, 65 Winchester Drive, Burbage, Leics. LE10 2BA. Tel: (0455) 632523

The M icrographics Market Place

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Product News High security waste destruction for small organisations.

For smaller-sized organisations who take data security seriously, Volumatic Limited has developed a totally secure means of destroying all forms of confidential office waste on site.

Remove static with the touch of a button To ensure operator comfort and protect valuable computer data and equipment from the damaging effects of static electricity, Power Equipment Limited have introduced Static Kicker. This new type of anti-glare VDU filter features a special touch pad which, when pressed, drains static from both operator and VDU. Simply by walking across an office, a computer operator can generate up to 30,000 volts of static. If the computer is touched, this electrical charge is conducted through its sensitive microcircuitry.

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Called the Disintegrator Model 50, it is a compact, scaleddown version of the type of high security waste destruction machine used by the armed forces, banks, government agencies and police forces.

In contrast to conventional shredders, there is virtually no limit to the type of material which can be destroyed by a disintegrator. Not restricted to flat sheets of paper, the Model 50 can handle crumpled paper and heavy card, whole bound manuals, ledgers, rolled maps and drawings, unburst computer printout and laminated materials.

This machine will also easily destroy tough data storage items which could never be shredded. These include video and audio cassettes, microfiche, reel microfilm on spools, floppy disks, magnetic tape, and even offset printing plates.

Material is fed at the top of the machine into a destruction chamber. Here, it is chopped up into tiny confetti-size pieces by a system of fixed knives and rotating blades. Material rotates in the chamber until it is small enough to drop through a perforated steel screen. A variety of screen sizes are available to suit the level of security required.

The confetti is then automatically sucked out of the machine by a vacuum system and dumped in a container for disposal.

The disintegrated waste is totally indecipherable and impossible to reconstitute in a readable form. The small waste particle size is well within both Home Office and Ministry of Defence standards.

Powered by a 5 horse power motor, the Disintegrator 50 can process up to 55kg of waste per hour. It measures 420 x 410 x 620mm and is supplied complete with an acoustic enclosure.

Contact: Volumatic Limited, Taurus House, Endemere Road, Coventry CV6 5PY, United Kingdom. Tel: 0203 684217.

Telex: 317137.

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By pressing the Static Kicker touch pad before using the computer, the operator will harmlessly disperse any electrical charge. The touch pad should also be pressed at regular intervals to eliminate the build-up of static around a VDU which can cause eyestrain and headaches.

Static is conducted via a lead fitted to the anti-glare filter frame and clipped to any earthed metal. A red light gives the operator a visual indication of the presence of static as it is passed safely to earth.

The fine mesh anti-glare filter considerably reduces reflections, ensuring clarity of VDU screen image. It can easily be attached, either directly onto the VDU casing with adhesive pads, or hung with velcro strips looped through slots in the frame and fixed to the top of the VDU. Static Kicker is made of sturdy, lightweight plastic. It has a reversible black and cream frame to co-ordinate with most computer equipment and is available in 12" and 14" sizes.

Contact: Power Equipment Limited, Kingsbury Road, London NW 9 8UU, United Kingdom. Tel: 01-205 0033.

Telex: 8952887.

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE KODAK MRG ÂŁ3.500.00 KODAK 550 and 700 Cameras - No reasonable offer refused Interested parties please contact Ken Scott, A rro w M icrofilm Ltd., 30 Sandy W a y , A m in g to n In d u s tria l E s ta te , Tam w orth, Staffs. B77 4DS. Tel. (0827) 52687 The M icrographics Market Place

Product News Bell & Howell launches new plain paper reader/printer.

Bell & Howell has launched the ABR 1900 to answer the increasing demand for a single plain paper A2 Microfilm Reader/Printer to handle roll and aperture card microfilm formats on one machine.

Ideal for architectural/engineering drawing reference and print backs, the ABR 1900 is Bell & Howell’s first A2 plain paper reader/printer and it joins the recently-launched ABR

Plain Paper Printer Family. This further strengthens Bell & Howell’s claim to offer the most comprehensive choice of plain paper reader/printers for all needs and volumes currently available from one supplier.

The ABR 1900 features a blue, low glare 460mm x 610mm (18" x24") screen for full 35mm viewing. A2 plain paper printouts are produced at five per minute and other printout sizes of A3 and A4 (landscape and portrait), at six per minute and seven per minute respectively, are also available. The ABR 1900 also has a multi-print facility for up to 99 copies.

Operator guess work is eliminated with electronic automatic exposure and focusing to ensure constant image quality, automatic image positioning, automatic paper size selection and automatic card scanning. This results in higher productivity and a reduced number of wasted prints.

Two lenses, 10.5X and 15X, are fitted as standard with an optional third lens available from a selection of 7.5X, 9.2X, 12X, 16X, and 20X. For even greater versatility and operatorease an aperture card feeder for up to 150 aperture cards is fitted as standard. In addition, there is a bi-mode capability to print from positive and negative film so there are no more ‘reversed print’ situations.

The introduction of the ABR 1900 is one of several new product announcements to be made by Bell & Howell during 1988.

Contact: Bell & Howell (Business Equipment Division) 33-35 Woodthorpe Road, Ashford, Middlesex.

Tel: Ashford (Middx) 51234.

NEW aperture card m ounter A t last a brand n ew , all British, 35m m aperture card hand m ounter.

M anufactured to the sam e exacting high standards expected from all Elke Products.

O nly £950.00 For full technical specifications please contact:-

elke microforms Hill Farm Industrial Estate, Hill Farm Avenue, Watford, Hertfordshire WD2 7SA Telephone: 0923 661811 Telex: 263277 ALLSYS Fax: 0923 662692 The M icrographics Market Place

5

Product News Microphax launch Master microfilm family A new family of microfilm equipment, including what is claimed to be the smallest reader-printer in the world, has been launched by Microphax. Called the Master range, it also features a budget priced CAR* system, a microfilm camera/processor and a range of portable readers.

To retrieve a document stored on microfiche, the user simply keys in enough information for the computer to recognise its filing code. The computer then asks the user to insert the correct cassette into the microfiche reader and key-in the fiche number and frame location information. The document immediately appears on the microfiche reader screen.

The need for staff training is eliminated because of the simplicity of the system software. No previous computer experience is required because all commands and prompts are given in plain English. The computer keyboard is used for all search and retrieval functions, commands being transmitted to the motorised fiche cassette reader via the Search Master microprocessor. This is linked to the computer by a standard RS232 interface. Prices start at £1500.

Contact: Microphax Limited, 36 Nuffield Way, Abingdon, Oxford 0X14 1TF, United Kingdom. Tel: 0235 25695.

Telex: 837991. Fax: 0235 24570.

Supplied with a two year guarantee, the Print Master readerprinter has a footprint of just 710 x 410 x 630mm. Offering 360 degree image rotation, there is a choice of ten magnification lenses from 12X to 52X. A dual lens option is also available. Accepting fiche, jackets, cartridges and 16 and 35mm rollfilm, the Print Master copies positive and negative images in A4 size at 9 cpm.

The Image Master camera/processor can transfer up to 1200 pages/hour onto 16mm microfilm. Ideal for high security, archival quality in-house microfilming, the unit operates just like a conventional photocopier. Simple to load and maintain, chemicals are supplied in measured, colour coded and numbered plastic bottles.

Microphax have also introduced the Search Master office document control and retrieval system.

Economically controlled temperatures When quality microfilm processing is essential, accurately controlled temperatures are a costly, but necessary, part of your business.

Gloucester Micrographics Ltd. have developed a new system comprising the ‘GM66’ range of heat exchangers which will keep chemicals and washing water at optimum temperatures but dramatically reduce electricity heating costs. Savings are claimed to be as high as 66%.

Mains water 240V single phase ac.

To Drain

S Y S T E M DIAGRAM

Search Master is a new, budget priced microfilm CAR* system available from Microphax Limited. The system combines microfilm and computer technology to offer a completely automated office document control system.

It is believed to be the first CAR system to accept microfilm jackets, making it alphabetically and chronologically updateable. The package totally integrates the date storage, search and retrieval functions and boasts two second retrieval of any stored document.

The key to the effectiveness of the system is its IBMcompatible software with 512K RAM*. The software is complemented by a front loading, motorised, microfiche cassette reader. Each cassette can hold up to thirty standard jackets or microfiche, storing about 3000 A4 documents.

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The system saves electricity, is easy to fit and easy to maintain.

Waste heat from the processing unit is extracted from the waste flow and transferred to incoming cold water. The small amount of additional heat required to reach optimum water temperature is supplied by an electronically controlled feed­ back water heater, such as the “ Selectronic 8” . This unit pulses heat into the incoming mains water which has already been pre-heated by the heat exchanger. In some processors this may well override the need for an internal water-bath heater, giving increased savings in electricity costs.

Contact: Gloucester Micrographics Ltd., The Mews, Unit 3/2 Brook Street, Micheldean, Gloucester G17 0SL. Tel: (0594) 542351. Telex: 946240.

The M icrographics Market Place

06 '88

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The M icrographics Market Place

7

Product News Intelligent master microfiche cutter Microfilm Reprographics Pic is now marketing the AUTOCUT 400 which has been designed as an intelligent cutter of master roll microfiche and can achieve a throughput of up to 2,000 cut masters an hour - fully automatically and with complete safety. It is particularly suited to COM applications.

The use of COM in business is expanding rapidly. Two major COM bureaux alone generate several millions of fiche a year, with a market value of over £40 million p.a. Several machines exist to cut duplicate film, but master film is too precious to be entrusted to an automatic cutter unless it is absolutely foolproof.

To safeguard these vital masters, the AUTOCUT 400 has been designed with several safety interlocks built in to the intelligent electronic circuits. Two cut mark sensors cross reference each other and, before a cut can be made, a third detects clear or fogged film. Unless all sensors are satisfied, the AUTOCUT will stop and issue an audible warning. The precision stepper motor drive systems and unique self-adjusting cutter blades ensure accurate and consistent operation.

The AUTOCUT 400 was developed by Amber Technology to requirements specified by its parent company, the Microfilm Reprographics Group — the largest COM service bureau in the UK. The first units have already been installed and several million fiche have been cut with complete safety.

The AUTOCUT 400 sells at an end-user price of £5,500.

New NCR 6800 COM System NCR Limited releases the NCR 6800, a new family of Computer Output Microfiche (COM) systems designed to meet the needs of today’s computer users to output alpha/numeric data to microfiche. The system provides a platform to allow easy integration within future total information and image management systems.

The NCR 6800 is the only COM system to provide both magnetic and optical disk file storage sub-systems for use in document and image processing applications.

The NCR 6800 adheres to NCR’s Open Systems Architecture (OSA) design philosophy, and gains enormous flexibility through the use of industry standard features including 32-bit processors, Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) buses and the latest 80386 processor based industry standard PC products.

This open systems architecture provides the NCR 6800 with connectivity potential far greater than ever before available with COM systems. The NCR 6800 can operate within the traditional direct connect environment or will be able to become part of a central host computer facility within wide and/or local area communications networks.

The NCR 6800 family comprises two platform products, the NCR 6810 and NCR 6820. The NCR 6810 is designed to allow users of NCR’s existing 5300 COM products to migrate to the new family without any changes.

The NCR 6820 platform includes a completely new software set written in “ C” , which is menu-driven and employs Microsoft Windows 80386. This will provide users with the fastest possible concurrent job set-up and simultaneous fiche production, while significantly reducing both initial and on­ going staff training costs.

Contact: Microfilm Reprographics p.l.c., 16-25 Bastwick Street, London EC1V3PS. Tel: 01-250 3377.

New range of processors for U.K. CMDS Ltd are pleased to announce that they now supply Cordell Microfilm Processors direct from America.

The complete range of processors available starts with the small low-cost Cordell 240 up to the full reversal Cordell 700 with automatic replenishment included. All units can be supplied with variable speed control and all models are suitable for 16, 35 or 105 roll microfilm or cut sheet. All units are “ leaderless” , ie self-threading.

A new “ Quick Fill” version of the Model 240 is now available and includes automatic fill, closed loop recirculation/ replenishment system, metal knock-down stand and three fivegallon bottles.

All models are fitted with daylight loading sections available with a combination of 16, 35 and/or 105 mm sections.

Trade and dealer enquiries are welcome, as well as end users.

A nationwide maintenance and repair service for these processors is available from IEM Ltd of Watford.

Contact: CMDS Ltd., Prospects House, 2 Queen Street, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 1AP. Tel: (0491) 571883.

Telex: 846424 PROSPX G. 8

The NCR 6800 continues to follow NCR’s modular product design, providing the facility for users to configure COM systems to meet their particular requirements. These are dry or wet processing, on-line operation, off-line operation including input from IBM 3480 type cartridge tapes.

In addition in-line operation providing fully automatic fiche duplication with collation is available. Intelligent collation will be available soon.

Prices of the NCR 6800 system depend upon features and options configured and will be in the range of £120,000 to £ 200 , 000 .

NCR develops, manufactures, markets and services business information systems and semi-conductors for world-wide markets.

Contact: NCR Ltd., 206 Marylebone Road, London NW1 6LY. Tel: 01-725 8248.

The M icrographics Market Race

LEADERS IN BUSINESS MICROGRAPHICS Yesterday, today and tomorrow, one name - DatagraphiX - has led and w ill lead the w ay in business micrographics.

Inventors and world leaders in Computer Output Microfilm, DatagraphiX has grown to become THE COMPANY for all business microfiche needs.

No other Company can offer the range of equipment or level of support to simultaneously meet the high volume needs of the commercial bureau, and the cost constraints of the in-house business user.

On-line/off-line automated COM systems from master fiche to finished duplicates.

Office based microcomputer controlled microfiche cameras.

High quality fiche duplicators from one to a million copies.

Economic yet innovative readers, reader/printers and fiche accessories.

Nationwide support The best hardware deserves the best software and engineering support. DatagraphiX has one of the most comprehensive support networks around and can bring the same level of back-up demanded in the mainframe computer environment to the average business user.

In vest in Success an d jo in th e Leaders

DatagraphiX Limited, NewLodge, DriftRoad, Windsor, Berks. SL44RQ. Telephone: WinkfieldRow|STD 0344| 885611 Telex: 847320 The M icrographics Market Place

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Home News Sole IKM U.K. distributors CPS Microfilm a division of Computer Peripheral Services Ltd. are pleased to announce that they have been nominated as sole UK distributors by IKM Mikrographics GmbH Echzell Republic of ^ e s t Germany.

IKM unique microfilming systems consists of a basic unit supported by a comprehensive range of interchangeable microfilm camera heads and work tables. The system can be used for the production of 16mm, 35mm, A6 Microfiche & Macrofiche, reduction range 6.5-72 holding a back projection degradation accuracy of less than 2 micron. The equipment is manufactured to a very high standard of accuracy and is supported by a computer system which can control all relative positioning and also format and title each exposure. The Microfilm title system has been designed for CAR applications which is the method of retrieval used by the IKM High Density Retrieval system. This has a capacity of 1050 individual A6 microfiche each containing 750 reduced A4 images. By computer control each image can be retrieved within 6 seconds and then dry copied or colour processed.

Contact: Mel Jones, CPS Microfilm Division, Computer Peripheral Services Ltd., 44 Durham Road, Newport, Gwent NP9 7DS. Tel: (0633) 65606.

New COM bureau Datacom Services Ltd. opened a new Computer Output Microfilm (COM) bureau in Coulsdon in May 1988.

COM, for the benefit of the uninitiated, is the technology which transcribes data from tapes or diskettes to microfilm at a reduction of 48:1. So instead of having 200 or more pages of print-out, you have one postcard-size microfiche. You can get to the data quickly on a microfiche reader, or by using a reader-printer you can re-print any page on plain paper.

The system is used by the banks to distribute daily account balances to tellers, by Retailers for price lists and for spare parts information, namely daily use of live information.

COM is also used by small, medium and large businesses with computer operations. It saves keeping racks of magnetic tape or piles of print-out, and the costs are frequently recouped out of the savings made by not buying so much paper.

Datacom is part of Microfilm Reprographics PLC, the UK company that’s helping to digitise 65 million pages of European Patent office documents in one of the biggest-ever data transfer tasks.

Contact: Datacom Services Ltd., Unit 8C, Redlands, Coulsdon, Surrey CR3 2TN.

10

Bell & Howell goes private Evanston, Illinois, May 17, 1988 - Bell and Howell Company shareholders today approved the Board of Directors merger recommendation, making the company an indirect, whollyowned subsidiary of Bell and Howell Group, Inc. The name will remain Bell and Howell Company.

Bell and Howell Group, Inc. is a company formed by an affiliate of the Robert M. Bass Group, Inc., Acadia Partners, L.P., and certain members of Bell and Howell’s management, including Gerald E. Schultz, President and Chief Executive officer.

Letters of transmittal and instructions are now being mailed to all shareholders. Upon return to the paying agent, Morgan Shareholder Services Trust Company, New York, each shareholder will receive $64 per share for their common and preferred shares.

Shortly after the merger approval, the financing arrangements were consummated. $702 million will be required to complete the merger. $200 million is being provided through a public debt offering underwritten by Drexel Burnham Lambert Incorporated and the First Boston Corporation in the form of senior subordinated debt, of which Acadia partners, L.P., is purchasing $30 million. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. San Francisco, and Morgan Guaranty Trust Co., New York, as co-agents of a lending syndication, are lending $34 million in senior bank financing and there is $100 million equity participation in the form of cash and Bell and Howell stock from the Robert M. Bass Group, Inc., Acadia partners and other affiliates, and senior management. In addition, $58 million of the company’s cash-on-hand is being used in the financing. The company’s $176 million existing debt remains outstanding.

Commenting on the merger, Schultz said: “ Bell and Howell was a private company for the first 38 years of its existence. It grew and prospered in that time. We see today’s action as a return to the company’s roots. Bell and Howell’s new investors and existing management are committed to moving forward and providing unique and challenging opportunities for its employees and customers.”

Schultz said that Bell and Howell will concentrate on its core business of worldwide mail handling systems, worldwide microfilm products and services, textbook publishing and public and private database publishing. “ We intend to be No.' 1 in each of these markets” , he said.

Richard S. Austin, European Managing Director, Bell & Howell Information Management Division, sees this as a wholly beneficial move. He commented: “ With sales in excess of $600m, the new Bell & Howell will remain intact. Our change to private ownership will not make any immediate difference to our many thousands of customers in the UK. We shall remain dedicated to providing innovative products, creative solutions and a standard of personal caring service that has distinguished our client relations for many years.”

Contact: Bell & Howell Ltd., 33-35 Woodthorpe Road, Ashford, Middx. TW15 2RZ. Tel: Ashford 0784 251234.

Purchase of Surrey Microfilm Microfilm and laser printing bureau Microfilm Reprographics has agreed to pay an initial £400,000 in cash for Surrey Microfilm, a company which in the year to September lost £316,000 before tax. Reprographics, which at 393p a share is capitalised at £75.3m, may make deferred payments related to Surrey’s profits in 1988-9 of up to £500,000.

The M icrographics Market Place

For ALL your Microfilm Supplies simply 'phone 0203 383998/381196 telex 311603 or fax 0203 342777

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The M icrographics Market Race

11

Home News Filotec Microfilm Bureau is on the move.

Due to an increase in demand for their services and their confidence in the future of the microfilm industry Filotec have purchased larger premises which are within 1Vi miles of the centre of Bristol.

Their new premises will allow them to expand even further and, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;phewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, it is all on ground level. No more strained backs through lifting tonnes of paper up and down stairs.

The central location in the South West gives easy access to the M4 and M5 motorways.

Contact: Filotec Ltd., Dave Nicholas, 1 Whitehouse Lane, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 4DW. Tel: (0272) 631943.

BEITA appoints new IT Director Dr. Martin Cragg has been appointed Director of Information Technology by the Business Equipment & Information Technology Association (BEITA).

Martin, who is 46, has spent the last nine years with the National Economic Development Office (NEDO) as industrial adviser to a number of Economic Development Committees.

He succeeds Horace Mitchell who will continue in the capacity of IT policy adviser to BEITA. Contact: Philip Le Masurier, Public Relations Manager, BEITA, 8 Southampton Place, London WC1A 2EF. Tel: 01-405 6233.

New brochure Microfilm Systems Ltd., have recently brought out a new full colour brochure announcing a new concept in microfilm to the U.K. The system is based around the Cameronic 2000 camera which they now have installed. The Cameronic system allows you to reproduce a combination of different sized originals, mono or colour, in virtually any format onto a standard A6 fiche.

Cameronics.

The new micrographic system, designed to solve your most demanding document control problems...

microfilm systems limited

For your copy contact: Microfilm Systems Ltd., 6 Horwood Court, Bilton Road, Bletchley, Milton Keynes M K11HW .

Tel: (0908) 75132. Fax (0908) 648006.

REPLACEMENT LAMPS AT REALISTIC PRICES! FOR READERS, READER PRINTERS AND DUPLICATORS

AVAILABLE FROM: AMBA LAMPS Unit 13, Beaumont Business Centre, Beaumont Close, Banbury, Oxon 0X16 7TG England S ( 0 2 9 5 ) 272666 Tlx: 837260 AMBA G Fax (0295) 272611 12

The M icrographics Market Place

MICROFILM EQUIPM ENT LTD. A ssociated C om pany Beckingham E le ctro n ics L td .

The SOLAR 1 6 /3 5 Ultrasonic Film Splicer The Solar 16/35 Ultrasonic Splicer, is quick, simple â&#x2013;ş to use and requires no consumables. Both 16mm and 35mm can be spliced on this same unit as well as 3M leaders and trailers and thick to thin film .

The Solar splicer gives quality splices, ideally suited for editing, jacketing and duplication.

Splicer

* These units are simple to 4 operate and have excellent slow-scanning control. Âť There are 3 models available.

M otorised Film Winder F o r Open Spool, 3 M & Kodak Type Cartridges

Solar 16/35mm universal editing station which allows inspection for quality control, editing and loading in one operation.

Designers and Manufacturers of specialised microfilm equipment including a full range of loading and editing/inspection stations, motorised roll film carriers for Regma Dataprism, Canon PC-70, Agfa LKL & Imtec reader/printers.

Please ring for further details: THE BONDED WAREHOUSE, HULKES LANE, ROCHESTER, KENT ME1 1 EE TELEPHONE: MEDWAY (0634) 43549 FAX NO. (0634) 829031

The M icrographics Market Place

13

Mertec ’88 Review The following companies were represented at Mertec ’88 - a small regional exhibition held at the Cardiff Post House on May 31 st until June 2nd.

Mertec Image Data Ltd. Mertec Image Data Ltd., the organisers of Mertec ’88, took this opportunity to preview the prototype of their new AutoWriter.

The Mertec Auto-Writer is a hopper fed, automatic aperture card/duplicard indexing system, designed for microfilm bureaux and internal departments who have to index quantities of cards.

The production model will be available with a number of options, including a built in reader station, enabling the operator to verify the microfilm, enter the required information and print out, all in one sequence.

It also has the ability of printing bar codes thereby allowing diazo duplicards to be indexed automatically from bar coded masters, without the intervention of the operator.

The computer based system is easy to use and requires no prior computer knowledge as all instructions are “ on screen.”

Also on display was equipment from ten other companies, including the Mertec Index-Writer - a computer based microfilm indexing system for all types of micrographic formats.

Contact: Mertec Image Data Ltd., Unit 17/18, LEC, 100 Trostre Road, Llanelli, Dyfed, SA15 2EA. Telephone: (0554) 772164.

Allen Microfilm Products AMP, the Bournemouth manufacturer of a large range of microfilm readers had on display their new 25 Series.

These have been introduced to tie in with the company’s Silver Anniversary in 1989 and also in readiness for the Single European Market, due in 1992.

Contact: Allen Microfilm Products Ltd., A M P House, P. O. Box 330, 64/74 Norwich A venue West, Bournemouth BH2 6AS. Tel: (0202) 752900.

Regma U.K. Ltd.

Mertec Systems Engineering Specialists in the design and development of printed circuit boards for use in all industries but with a specific interest in micrographics.

Genneg Associates (The Microfilm Shop) Genneg were displaying a wide range of their microfilm supplies and demonstrating the DOD system of diazo duplication without the use of Ammonia liquid or gas.

Bucon Ltd.

Imtec Group p.l.c.

Memcom International Allsystems Microfilm Ltd. Allsystems were exhibiting their AM 7220 Minicom low cost, high efficiency COM Recorder.

Visitors were drawn from all over the U.K. and Europe and Mr. Nigel Francis of Mertec said that he was very pleased with the interest shown in the first exhibition that he had organised, and thought it very likely that he would repeat the exercise in 1989.

14

Scan Image Data S.I.D. (Scan Image Data) is a technological breakthrough in document filing and retrieval which replaces both hard copy and microforms with a single uniform system.

A.S.K.I.T. (Automated System for Keyfield Information Tables) is a revolutionary method of storing and retrieving data purged from most mini or mainframe computers which replaces standard forms of C.O.M. (Computer Output Microfilm).

For the first time both incoming documents and computer generated reports can be archived on the same system in an inexpensive and cost effective way.

The systems are manufactured by Scan Image Data Limited in Egham where Software and Hardware Engineers are based.

Every system may be tailored to suit individual applications.

The true value of the system can only be appreciated with a demonstration which they say they will be happy to arrange at their premises in Egham.

Contact: Scan Image Data, Unit 10, Sky Business Park, Eversley Way, Egham, Surrey TW20 8RF. Tel: (0784) 71721.

Fax: (0784) 71097.

The M icrographics Market Place

DO YOU MAKE JO IN S IN MICROFILM STOP PRESS!!

N O W is the time to take advantage of a low value dollar to enable you to equip with the most widely used Ultrasonic Film Splicer for archival, polyester film joins.

Model 3001 Ultrasonic Film Splicer

2) SELVYT CLOTHS- A must for removing dirt and foreign matter from filmstock and equipment lenses and with any number of other uses. A short pile velveteen fabric of high durability even after repeated washings.

3) BRUSHED COTTON FILM HANDLING GLOVESAt competitive prices in both men and women’s sizes. These are a superior product with seamed, gussetted fingers and seamed wrists to ensure snug natural fitting for comfortable application to assist in keeping film clean and free from finger printing.

1) ULTRASONIC FILM SPLICERS-From the tried-and-tested range of "Metric Splicer & Film C o-U S A !’

These machines have been sold in the U.K. for some 15 years and are also the most widely used machine of its type throughout the world. Most all of the large Microfilm users in the U.K. employ them within their operation.

16mm Models

£1600 approx

16/35mm Models

£1900 approx

70mm Models 105mm Models

£2900 approx

SPLICER FEATURES NO CONSUMABLES such as tape or cement required.

NO SPECIAL INSTALLATION just a simple 13 amp socket.

EASY TO OPERATE-Film joined in precise alignment.

The M icrographics Market Place

4) METAL FILM CANS-In various sizes for both 16/35m m film.

5) PERMANENT MARKER PENS-A truly permanent ink which is quick drying for writing on film and any relevant accessories to your film operation such as tape, film boxes and film cans. In a variety of colours to enable simple and efficient identification of your product and at very keen prices.

6) GLASSWRITER CHINAGRAPH PENCILS-Again in a variety of colours. As the name implies these are perfect for writing on film and any other surfaces which might normally prove difficult.

Once you have tried these your problems will be solved!

Topham Film & Engineering Ltd., Unit 9, Mitre Bridge Industrial Park, Mitre Way, London W10 6AU Telephone: 01-960 0123 and 01-960 0136

15

Computer related micrographics: Strong in the short term, but troubles beyond?

Frost & Sullivan, Inc., the market research firm that periodically does a study on the micrographics industry, has just come out with another, a $2,100 256-page report entitled “ The U.S. Market for Computer Microimaging Products” (#■ A1875). The gist of F&S’s findings are that micrographics is still the major — albeit minor — alternative to paper and other record storage media but that down the road newer technologies, and most particularly optical disk, may cut deeply into that lead.

However, this is a song that has been sung before — many times this decade — and it doesn’t have the resonance or impact it once did. Indeed, some amused skeptics are reminded of the predictions of an imminent checkless society made 25 years ago by many computer-oriented market researchers. Thus they regard some of the predictions about micrographics with more than a grain of salt.

Continuing Near-Term Growth Frost & Sullivan looks at micrographics in the 1987 to 1992 time frame and paints a relatively optimistic picture for most segments of the industry. It sees COM systems revenues climbing from $593 million in 1987 to $786 million in 1990.

Within that it sees micro-computer-based units and peripherals growing fastest and mini-computer based ones the slowest with the supplies segment largely stagnant.

Like everyone else, F&S sees service bureaus continuing to blossom at a rate of 7.5% over the period as they provide services to smaller customers and newcomers to micrographics. Service bureau revenues are forecast to jump from $160 million in 1987 to $230 million by 1992.

Another growth area is CAR. F&S says that although price decreases are averaging 6-8% a year, total CAR revenues are rising as unit shipments increase. Both COM and CAR are predicted to have growth rates, in terms of units, of over 10% through 1989.

Beware the 1990s It is beyond 1989 that F&S’s report grows less optimistic for micrographics. In the 1990s is when the threat from optical disks is now seen to be more realistic. “ The competitive threat from optical disks has been slow to develop because of factors like high cost (about three times that of micrographics) and lack of software standards,” says the F&S study. “ But the cost of optical disks will come down and their enormous capacity plus random access and fast retrieval make them the storage technology of the future, though perhaps less as a competitive than as a complementary technology to COM/CAR storage.”

Frost & Sullivan notes that “ most of the major micrographics vendors have optical disk systems in development or a strategic alliance with an OEM that can supply them with the optical disks units.”

While being very high on optical disk, F&S’ study neglects to give any details on how questions of media standards, legality and actual archivability of optical media will affect prospects for the technology. These questions have been posed since the early 1980s when the black cloud of O.D. began to shadow micrographics and they have still not been satisfactorily or totally answered.

16

Understand the Background It also is worth noting that the F&S study comes from a computerized orientation - accenting COM/CAR - and pays relatively little attention to engineering applications, aperture cards, non-computerized small business and satellite office information systems as well as to market segments such as cameras, readers and reader/printers, laboratory work, etc.

This orientation should be kept in mind when evaluating the findings.

F&S’s total market estimates also are somewhat below others.

For example, it sees the 1987 total (COM, CAR, film, service bureau revenues) micrographics market as having been only $1.3 billion and growing to $1.5 billion by 1992. Other studies, such as that by Coopers & Lybrand which is now considered the benchmark, saw a larger market two years ago ($2.3 billion) and a larger one ahead, even acknowledging the inevitable growth of optical disk technology.

The difference seems to be in the base included, the orientation of the researchers, and their optimism over the speed with which O.D. costs - in all areas - can come down to competitive (with micrographics) levels. F&S is more optimistic than some others.

The Value of Niche Markets To its credit, the study does call attention to some of the opportunities that may exist in smaller niche markets, which promise high growth rates but are not being addressed aggressively by the large micrographics suppliers. F&S touches on them but does not go into detail. One such niche, noted in A-E-C Automation Newsletter, is drawing conversion by scan digitizing. This is a subset of the engineering field and today is probably just about a $30 million business. By 1990 it could be five or more times that size.

In fact, conversion services, per se, are a potentially huge market for the service bureau business. This includes traditional conversions from film to paper and the growing field of conversions from paper and/or film to electronic images.

As is usual in the F&S studies, there is a historical background to the field, an examination of the competing/complementary technologies as well as competitive factors, a listing of major vendors (including system integrators), distribution channels and market characteristics.

Although some might quarrel with the findings, and possibly the methodology, the report - even with its computer industry/MIS bias - is useful. It accepts that micrographics is now at or near the mainstream of information management and F&S believes that “ By 1989, information processing is expected to become the largest industry in the world’s economy.” So, whatever happens in the years to come today micrographics is getting its acceptance.

For information on the study, contact Frost & Sullivan Inc., 105 Fulton Street, New York NY 10038, 212/223-1080.

The above article is reproduced with the kind permission o f the Micrographics Newsletter (May 1988).

The M icrographics Market Place

International News When records management becomes a corporate management technique . . . you’ll see it at ARCHIV’88.

Corporate image is an increasingly important preoccupation for companies in France. Natural, efficient records management is vital to this. That is why in recent years a number of colloquia and symposia have been organized to deal with this very important field.

Today, more and more French companies are writing their histories, not only for their own use, but as a cultural contribution to society as a whole. For this, they depend on well organized, efficiently maintained records. These “ good citizen” corporations work diligently to promote a corporate image that will make them stand out from the rest. And without an optimum records system, the ambitious projects recently achieved would have been impossible. Yes, but maintaining archives is an expensive business! Today, 94% of corporate archives are on paper. Microfilm records account for 4% of tqtal volume, while computerized data represent 2%. Thus, companies need kilometre upon kilometre of space to maintain their records. What with the price of space in a city like Paris, not to mention offices, file cabinets, shelves, maintenance, insurance, professional tax, personnel and handling costs, research and transport. . . Philips, for example, spends 10 million francs a year on records maintenance!

Moreover, laws dictate that records must be kept for years, sometimes decades. Company documents must be kept for 30 years, accounting records for 10 years, bills, receipts and commercial documents for 30 years and documents pertaining to personnel for a minimum of five years.

Companies maintain archives because they are an indispensable source of information for the future. Thus, records management constitutes an unavoidable expense for every company.

Even with the regular destruction of obsolete files, volume of archives grows between 10% and 15% per year, depending on the sector.

ARCHIV’88 offers companies a range of solutions.

Three main systems for records management are covered by ARCHIV’88: — Solutions for more efficient organisation and handling of paper medium archives are offered by exhibitors representing the conventional records maintenance sector.

— Data processing companies will be there to familiarize visitors with the archives of the future and to select the most appropriate computerized file systems for their needs.

— Manufacturers of videodiscs and digital optical discs will also be there to introduce visitors to the latest in sophisticated file maintenance technology.

Contact: Archiv’88, Comite des Expositions de Paris, 55 quai Alphonse Le Gallo, B.P. 317, 92107Boulogne Billancourt Cedex, Paris, France. Tel: (1) 49 09 60 72.

Telex: 632 580 F. Fax: (1) 49 09 60 47.

Allen Products institutes international service The Allen Products Company is now providing complete technical support to its rapidly expanding customer base in Europe. This support is being performed by Allen’s factorytrained staff of service technicians.

Initiated during the latter part of 1987, Allen provides direct service by sending one of its U.S.-based technicians to Europe for two to three weeks at a time. A different person goes each quarter and is able to complete at least a dozen service calls.

With its expanded role, the service staff is now able to help Allen’s European distributors offer better back-up by doing installations, preventive maintenance and operational training.

Contact: The Allen Products Company, 180 Wampus Lane, Milford, Connecticut 06460. Tel: 203 878 7454.

ENGINEERING W HIZ Allen microfilm processors are so carefully designed they can fit into out-of-the-way comers. Like the com­ pact, high speed M-45 for 16/35mm archival quality output. And our new­ est, the extra compact, economical F-6 for 16/35/105mm film.

Allens are tops for deep tank qual­ ity construction and efficient use of electricity, water and chemistry. And don’t forget their easy operation and cleanup procedures.

Look into the most complete line of 16,35 and 105mm microfilm processors available. It’s the best one and is backed up with complete service and broad technical support.

For more information call an Allen representative. Or write Allen at the address below.

Find out how an Allen whiz can engineer your output.

@ P Allen Products 180 Wampus Lane, M ilford, Ct. 06460 USA

Tel: 203 878 7454 Telex: 964368

Distributed in the United Kingdom by: Bell & Howell Micromedia Div. Tel: 0869 245711 MPCS Limited Tel: 0344 422777

The Micrographics Market Place

17

Manufacturing companies, please note: Clarify needs BEFORE buying new system

Barry Edmonds - Marketing Manager, 3M Document Systems The choices have grown rapidly in the number of new systems and services available for more productive management of engineering drawings, documentation and other information.

As a result, many manufacturing company executives have become more concerned, and possibly confused, about how best to manage documentation in the future.

If the first step is to examine the current document management system in place and to determine the application’s needs, then the second step is to know what is available in the marketplace to meet those needs.

Communication-by-Card (CBC) is a proven method of solving documentation management problems. The 35mm aperture card is used around the world to store, retrieve and distribute engineering drawings. Micrographic systems are going to be around for a long time for two good reasons. First, many companies have large investments in these systems and, second, because these systems work, companies simply can’t justify replacing them.

New products are adding a new dimension of automation to this technology, opening the path to hybrid systems which link both micrographics and electronic technologies. For example, a laser film plotter is designed for on-line use with ComputerAided Design (CAD). The plotter produces high-resolution 35mm aperture card originals of drawings directly from electronically stored data. This provides a high level of automation without sacrificing present large investments in micrographics.

Optical disk technology is becoming established and many products are available for moderate and high-volume users. In the past year, important strides were made in the variety of equipment, including a number of optical disk drives and software. Two 3M Doculink optical disk systems for the management of engineering documentation have been developed. The first, the 3500 Doculink System, is designed for the manufacturing floor and is used to assemble documentation and other data into an electronic file folder, a format for quick access and easy use. Access is via a PC or Sun workstation. The second, the 7500 Doculink System, includes a juke box for huge amounts of storage and is centrally located and linked to the mainframe computer to make use of the manufacturer’s total data base.

Users who need guidance should turn to a well established vendor. The user should expect high quality performance from the vendor and know that the vendor supports extensive research and development programmes, confirming that vendor’s commitment to the business in the long years ahead.

The user should also consider service as an important aspect of the buying decision. The vendor should have the resources to produce services to support their products on a national or international level. 3M has developed a new team approach to service, bringing together sales and technical service people and systems analysts who specialise in providing analyses of user needs.

In summing up, I suggest that manufacturing companies who are taking a look at updating their documentation handling systems consider these steps. First, determine engineering and other document management needs. Second, learn what products are available that can help meet those needs. Third, select a vendor with the resources to supply dependable products now and in the future and who can provide the guidance and follow-up services to support those products. In this way, potential users can be more certain of meeting their present and future needs in economical and productive ways.

3M anticipate launching Doculink here in the U.K. late summer time. There are already trial installations in America at Hewlet Packard, Caterpillar Trucks and an electricity supply company.

For the latest information on 3M Doculink, contact Barry Edmonds on 0344-58464.

YES S IR - Our new computerised processing p lant is now in fu ll operation ! ’

Based on an idea from D. Brewster of Surrey Microfilm.

18

The M icrographics Market Place

SCAN IMAGE DATA LTD. ( f o r m e r ly NM S) SECO ND H A N D RECONDITIONED EQUIPM ENT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

35mm PLANETARY CAMERAS

STEP AND REPEAT CAMERAS

JACKET LOADERS

HMRG Schaut Processor Camera Microbox MBSO

GAF 8000

NB 1600 ABR 400 ABR 415

16mm PLANETARY CAMERAS Kodak Starfile RV2 & RV3 Bell & Howell Filemaster Kodak MRD

PROCESSORS Agfa FP500 Agfa FP400 Kodak Prostar Bell & Howell 240

READERS Large variety of Fiche Kodak and Agfa Roll Film Caps Mocuries

CONTINUOUS STATIONERY CAMERAS 16mm'R0TARY CAMERAS 3M 161 Kodak 250 Kodak 450 Kodak 700 Kodak 750 Ayfa D8000

Agfa 2500 E Maxima Intercom

PRINTERS

DUPLICATORS

3M 500c Imtech A2 Regma LR6 & LR7 Fiche Er Cartridge Agfa LKL

GAF 16-35 Bell & Howell 404

FILM, CHEMISTRY & CONSUMABLES

For further information contact John Pauling at: S.I.D., Unit lO, Sky Business Park, Eversley Way, Egham, Surrey, TW20 8RF Telephone: (0784) 71721/2/3 Fax= (0784) 71097

British

TELECOM A

J 4?

/

Y O U A R E C O R D IA L L Y IN V IT E D to a tte n d our open d ay on July 26th 9.00 am - 12.30 pm 1.30 pm -4 .0 0 pm to inspect M IC R O G R A P M C EQ U IP M EN T surplus to our operational requirem ents Fo r sale by tender

Item s for sale includes four Photom atrix 8 2 0 Diazo High speed Duplicators and other item s o f interest For further information contact Colin Giffin B T R /U 6 .2 B T M tC R O G R A P H tC U N tT 211 Old S treet London E C 1V 9 P S Telephone.01-2 6 0 -7 5 5 9

The M icrographics Market Place

19

Review of T.E.A.M . Conference 1988

Back in the early ’60s, the Technical Exchange Association for Microfilm was launched by the 3M company under its Founder/Secretary, Mike O’Connor, to help accelerate an understanding of the then new technology of microfilm aperture cards. Beginning in the U.K., it spread to Germany, Holland and Switzerland, running successfully for several years until its objectives were achieved.

In the mid ’80s, with the recent advance of CAE and CADCAM, the impact of the computer on all aspects of engineering services had been massive. It seemed logical for 3M to resurrect T.E.A.M. for a new educational job under its original Secretary.

Overall, around a hundred people attended the 1988 T.E.A.M. Conference at the Kensington Hilton to listen to five lectures and to eat an excellent lunch. On this occasion the Chairman was Ron Jackson M.B.E., Systems Manager at APV-Baker of Peterborough, a recognised pioneer of working CADCAM. First speaker was Tony Wicks, M.D. of Wicks & Wilson, manufacturers of intelligent duplicating and imaging equipment. He spoke briefly about his own product line, now including raster based card plotters and scanners. He talked about the differences between 2D raster images and multi-coordinate vector images and how the former were slow and difficult to convert for CAD use, whereas vector to raster conversion was simple. CAD produced vector databases but archives were held on raster. Mixed databases were fine provided that an adequate common indexing system accessed them.

Tony went on to describe laser and CCD based Scanners and the technical need for DIP (Digital Image Processing) removing ‘Speckle’ and enhancing edges. Finally, he summarised the functions of card-plotters under three headings. First, creating cards for Document Management Systems; second, creating CAD output cards for duplication and distribution; third, to make card as input for high volume production printers.

Doug Pearce, Quality Manager of Brush Transformers, Loughborough was the next speaker. He pointed out the strain imposed on many companies during the 1980’s in meeting the stringent quality requirements of BS5750 including, in his experience, that of para 4.9 of part 1, concerning overall control of manufacturing documents.

Doug continued by describing the limitations of the traditional dyeline print and storage system with which they had lived, until the introduction of aperture cards and plain paper printers, in particular the 3m 630 which they finally chose. He completed his presentation by describing, in some detail, the actual card transit and control procedures now in use at Brush, thus ensuring that the right documents were at the right place at the right time.

The third speech, made by Tim Fletcher, 3M Regional Sales Manager, consisted of a forthright survey of all U.K. available engineering micrographics hardware from known vendors, including 3M. He was careful to emphasise that it was only a personal account, because only two vendors, of the many circulated, had bothered to respond with marketing data. The survey, a new T.E.A.M. feature, was designed as a service to members.

20

Tony Hendley, Head of Research and Consultancy at CIMTEC and Chairman of the coming June OIS conference gave the next presentation. This was a ‘Tour de force’ covering all aspects of documents by type, handling and organisation. He talked about microforms, CAD and CAE, and all the island technologies of communication. There was, he said a need for integrating software, also engulfing commercial with manufacturing functions. Nevertheless, it was unlikely that electronic documentation would take over more than 25% of the total production by the year 2000.

In evaluating electronic storage, Tony was careful to highlight the importance of ‘Activity’ as a key factor in modern times: space and material were seen as secondary to the processes of project time and decision. It was important, too, to accelerate completion of acceptable international standards in media specifications, system interfaces, data format and compression, and general communications architecture overall.

The last Conference presentation was given by John Maki, Director of the 3M Engineering Systems Laboratory at St. Paul. Nowadays, John said, new product development in his lab. was based on very careful, prior studies of customer needs. From recognition of this need to production of the usable solution seemed, somehow, to maintain a constant seven year project schedule. 3M’s manufacturing philosophy has not changed since Terry Sonnonstein’s T.E.A.M. presentation of 1986; this was to generate products, hard and soft, which would significantly increase productivity at reprographic and management system levels.

First, John said, it was necessary to recognise the need.

Second, to evaluate that need. Third, to assess progress made in reaching a solution. Such needs would cover supplies and service support, the hardware itself and lastly both operating and systems software. To keep costs down to a reasonable level such software needed to be very flexible and adaptable to application customising as well as being able to make easy and practical interfaces with prior electronic software from other vendors. Furthermore, such subsystems should be able to share a common database using the type of electronic storage media which is currently 2/4/6.5 MGB optical disc or whatever.

Optical disc seems to be in the mid-7-year development stage together with related technologies. It becomes effective when driven by good integrating software, like 3M’s card program ECADS and engineering DMS systems Doculink 7500 and Doculink 3500. Pilot installations for the 7500 include those at Caterpillar tractor, Northern States Power and Hewlett Packard. Such systems explore paper scanning up to E size, use on-line raster editing sub-workstations, some 20 miles apart; they use OD Juke-boxes, 64 platter expandable up to 208, and laser printers, shortly to be joined by the LBQ or laser beam Quantimatic printer, E sized laser printers and, at a future date, disc replicators.

System 3500 was similar to the 7500 but was aimed primarily at assembling combinations of electronic files composed of drawings, work and QA procedures and other manufacturing sets. John hoped that the 3500 would be released in the U.S.A. early in 1989.

Contact: Mike O ’Connor, T.E.A.M. 3M House, P.O. Box 1, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 1JU. Tel: (0344) 58391.

The M icrographics Market Place

Your Letters

No truth in the rumour . . .

Dear Editor

Mike Kenyon Esq. Kodak Ltd. P. O. Box 66 Station Road Hemel Hempstead Herts.

Dear Mike, It has filtered through to me, via the trusty grapevine, that Kodak are beginning to adopt protectionist policies even where their B-Link members are concerned.

I was informed, by one o f your members, that after supplying Kodak equipment, they could not obtain spares quickly without paying a substantial premium thus encouraging their customers to contact Kodak direct thereby possibly losing them.

I am being sent a letter* to support the above allegation which I feel duty bound to publish. However, I would not consider it fair fo r me to do so without giving your company an opportunity to justify or deny this policy.

Looking forward to a prompt reply.

Yours sincerely Tim Nixon, Editor -

-

*The letter mentioned never actually materialised, nevertheless I feel that Kodak’s reply, via Mike Kenyon, might be o f interest to our readers.

And in reply . . .

Dear Editor, Thanks for your letter dated 29th March.

Kodak are not ‘beginning to adopt protectionist policies’.

Far from it. From your letter I do not think your ‘trusty grapevine’ has the full facts.

We do not have a surcharge for the normal delivery of spare parts.

Some time ago, however, we introduced a £50 surcharge for the urgent delivery of spare parts. Basically we did this to ensure that we could continue to provide our customers with the high level of equipment servicing they demand and receive from Kodak.

I am sure that you would agree that customers really do come first in our industry.

The point you made about B-Link Members is no longer applicable. Being appointed customers we have waived this surcharge as from 24th March 1988. A letter has been sent to all B-Link Members.

While I have got your attention you might like to know that we have just introduced a new range of microfilms which have a new coating. Known as “ Chem-181” this coating offers anti static protection which significantly reduces the chance of the film picking up dust. An important consideration in any active microfilm system - particularly for bureaux who do not actually use the film they generate.

Thanks again for your letter. Please contact me if you need any similar type of clarification.

Kind Regards Mike Kenyon Kodak Business Imaging Systems The M icrographics Market Place

This is to inform you of the latest developments with Arc Microfilm Limited and to squash any rumours there are in the industry that we have been taken over by Microfilm Reprographics.

Arc Microfilm have vacated their premises at Unit 25 Cloud Hill Enterprises and moved next door into larger units at Unit 20. Datacom have subsequently moved next door into Arc Microfilm’s old premises to operate a CO M Bureau serving the South West and South Wales. This move is done in conjunction with Arc Microfilm who will be providing the hardware and all related auxiliary to the C OM service offered

by Datacom.

Arc Microfilm who now operate over 5000 sq ft of Microfilm Bureau space in the Bristol Area (plus their Newport Office) are shortly to expand yet again with their 16mm Microfilm Bureau. The systems Arc Microfilm are able to offer using their blipped 16mm films coupled with their own product the “ Arc Monitor” are proving a very cost effective way for storage of documents for the clients in the South West Area who are obtaining the full benefit of blipped film.

Yours sincerely R. C. Crowley - Managing Director Arc Microfilm Ltd. Unit 20 Cloud Hill Enterprises Eastcourt Road Temple Cloud Bristol BS18 5BX *

"

Do you need

REAL QUALITY? Then you need quality control and testing methods that will give you Archival Quality microfilm (lasting more than 100 years when properly stored).

Otherwise, your film won’t last.

MicroD has been in the microfilm quality control business longer than anyone else and the full line of products and expert help are now available in the U.K. through Dass MicroD. Let MicroD help you to establish and maintain proper density resolution and archival processing (Methylene Blue test).

With MicroD your film can live to see 100.

Write or telephone : Dass MicroD Ltd., 176 Broad Street, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 1DX. 021-643 4748

21

Micrographics gain from Optical Disk sales drive!

AIIM’s 1988 Conference and Exposition (Chicago, April 11th- 14th) was big and lively. While not a record, an impressive 16,000 people trooped through McCormick Place to look at the wares of and listen to the pitches of 190 exhibitors who filled 100,000 square feet of exhibit space (both records). Excluding associations and publications, there were 173 equipment and/or services exhibitors. Approximately 80 showed electronic or optical imaging systems, software or peripherals.

In a large sense AIIM ’88 (whose theme was “ Adding Image to Information Management” ) was as much an electronic/optical imaging show as it was a micrographics exposition. This was as true in the seminar rooms as in the exhibit hall where the optical disk sessions, from the pre­ conference tutorial to the final day’s closing panel, drew the largest crowds and most rapt attention.

But a strange thing happened on the way to the O.D. forum!

Many attendees came to learn about optical disk: to see how practical current systems are for their needs; to review the state of the art; to discuss legality and standards; above all, to determine costs and cost effectiveness. And, as a result, many came away talking about or even committing to micrographics systems instead. “ The push for optical disk and the involvement of major EDP firms like IBM, AT&T and Wang is proving very beneficial to us,” one exhibitor told MN. “ O.D. captures senior management attention that we never were able to get,” he said “ and then we can tell and sell our story.”

Another micrographics system exhibitor agreed. “ The interest in optical disk and electronic systems opens the door to appropriations requests that were impossible before. We’re getting involved with higher levels of management, far above the records managers we often were stopped at. Now we’re dealing with M.I.S. people and senior financial, purchasing and general management. Their spending capabilities are much higher - when they can cost justify the expenditure.” “ But as they review systems costs and capabilities, they very often — particularly in mid-size companies below the ‘Fortune 500’ - find that a micrographics system better fits their needs and budgets. Unless they have the huge data base, frequent reference needs and often multi users that make many O.D. systems ideal, a more modest PC-driven CAR system may be just the ticket,” he said.

Still another exhibitor told MN, “ Now that optical disk is truly here, people see what it is. Many paper users who held back from committing to anything but paper no longer hold back. We’re getting lots of newcomers to micrographics. I’m sure the O.D. people are also. There’s enough business out there for both technologies. Paper is still by far the dominant record storage medium and if we can grab just a small portion of that market, we’re doing very well.”

Based on conversations with a variety of vendors, including manufacturers and service firms, there are now very few members of the micrographics field still singing the “ O.D. blues.” Instead, the theme song seems to be more of “ My time is your time.”

The above article is reproduced with the kind permission o f the Micrographics Newsletter (April 1988).

22

You’ll Never Have To Mix Film Chemistry Again.

Im ag in e never having to mix film chemistry again. Imagine a reliable, consistent flow of perfectly mixed chemicals for your microfilm or mi­ crofiche proces­ sor. Imagine a fully-automatic system that saves moneywhile insur­ ing consis­ tent, quality film process­ ing on every Model soo ro ll.

Microfilm

You’ve just imagined the Automix Chemical Management System.

The Automix system has a proven track record for reliable, trouble-free operation. In­ stallation is fast and in­ expensive.

You’ll be pleased when you see just how- quickly this system will pay for itself by reducing m ate­ rials, waste, m an-hours and quality control problems. call imperial data today about the Automix Chemical Manage­ ment System. You'll never mix film chemistry again.

Model

2000c

- com

Automix Chemical Management Systems

@

imperial data limited

4/6 High Street, Thatcham, Berkshire R G B 4JD Telephone: Thatcham (0635) 60560 Telex: 849125 GOTRA V G Fax No: 0635-62834 The M icrographics Market Place

AN ALL-RECORD EXHIBITION

_ It is important not to become swamped by the sheer mass of informa^ t i o n that has to be handled.

ARCHIV'88 shows ways of integrating, filing and reproducing the documents that are the raw material of your work.

Keeping records and processing data is a genuine issue for Compa­ nies, the Administration, and is a mine of productivity for you.

A rc h ivin g is no longer a problem - It is so lu tio n .

22-26 AUGUST 1988

Alphonse Le Gallo - B.P. 317 - 92107 BOULOGNE-BILLANCOURT Cedex FRANCE-Tel.: (1) 49.09.60.72 - Telex: 632580 F-Fax: (1)49.09.60.47Minitel: 3616 FTB * CEP - Mot cle: ARCHIV'.

PALAIS DES CONGRES

ARCHIV'88 is organized by COMITE DES EXPOSITIONS DE PARIS.

PORTE MAILLOT - PARIS

The M icrographics Market Place

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CHARLOTTE CO M M U NICATION

For full details about the exhibition and the lectures that will be held, contact: Nathalie R AIS S A C -JAR R A R D - Comite des Expositions de Paris - 55, quai

43 07 74 27

It is an International Exhibition:

“25 RANGE” OF A3 READERS (Available next month) 25C

SELF THREADING 3M CARTRIDGE READER WITH A3 SCREEN - 1 , 2 OR 3 LENSES FITTED, 360° IMAGE ROTATION. LED ODOMETER. WILL ALSO ACCEPT 16mm OPEN SPOOLS.

2 5 MR

35m m OR 16mm OPEN SPOOL MOTORISED A3 READER WITH 1, 2 OR 3 LENSES FITTED. IMAGE ROTATION AVAILABLE.

25A/F/R 35m m APERTURE CA RD S, S T A N D A R D FICHE, 16mm OR 35m m OPEN SPOOLS M A N U A L FILM DRIVE. 1, 2 OR 3 LENSES FITTED. A3 SCREEN. BRITISH M A D E SO PARTS OR EXTRAS IM M E D IA TE LY AVAILABLE FOR A T LEAST 10 YEARS. FREE DELIVERY ON U.K. M A IN L A N D .

ALLEN MICROFILM PRODUCTS LTD. (MANUFACTURERS)

^ hugcj

p n nny ttn

BOURNEMOUTH BH2 6AS Tel: (0202) 752900 Telex: 418297 CHACOM Fax:(0202)680315

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the b u reau x friend in deed i

m

t »m m m in i f ilm camera The Elke DAO 35mm microfilm camera is truly user friendly.

Its many exclusive features eliminate operator error.

An autobar, voltage fluctuation controller and lens extension compensation plus an automatic exposure control system, exposure meter and multiple exposure are built in as standard.

All functions are automated so you can forget about technical problems.

Even a novice can produce 1st class results.

Output is improved while density is maintained from even the most difficult originals.

Incorrect exposure problems are eliminated with the Elke DAO 35mm microfilm camera and the result is:-

EASY OPERATION AND LESS WASTE.

elke microforms Hill Farm Industrial Estate, Hill Farm Avenue, Watford, Hertfordshire WD2 7SA Telephone: 0923 661811__________ Telex: 263277 ALLSYS____________ Fax: 0923 662692 24

The M icrographics Market Race

SIX OF THE BEST MICROFICHE DUPLICATORS! Photomatrix has been involved in the design, development and manufacture of Microfiche Duplicators for over 2 0 years.

The whole range of Photomatrix Diazo Duplicators, shown below, use Aqueous Ammonia (liquid) rather than the pressurised Anhydrous Ammonia (gas bottle).

Each model is equipped with the unique Photomatrix development chamber, thus ensuring an absolute minimum o f ammonia vapour escaping into the ambient atmosphere (approximately 4 parts per 1,000,000). This alleviates the necessity for venting (though heat venting is occasionally recorpmended) which is an important factor for many office block locations.

2. MODEL 8 2 0 Single M aster Microfiche Duplicator

3. MODEL 8 2 2 MP Single M aster Microfiche Duplicator for Micropublishing

4. MODEL 8 3 0 Microfiche Autoload Duplicator

1. MODEL 410 Low Volume Microfiche Duplicator

Our best adverts are our customers!

There are several features in the range of Photomatrix Diazo Duplicators which enhance its performance and have helped to give it the reputation of being the most reliable duplicator on the market today.

Photomatrix also manufacture a 4 mode! range of Vesicular Duplicating Machines.

For full specifications and prices please contact:

PHOTO M A T R I X THE FORUM, HIGH STREET, EDGWARE, MIDDLESEX. HA8 7HB. U.K. TEL: 01 951 1604 (2 lines) 01 951 4642. TELEX: 895 6371. FAX: 01 951 4284 The M icrographics Market Race

25

Application Study Newspaper cuttings library Daily Mail Newspapers has maintained a newspaper cuttings Library since 1896. At present there are some 76 million clippings filed under 750,000 headings. The clippings are classified by Subject Headings and stored in alphabetical order. The system is fully understood and used by the journalists employed on the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, Standard and other Mail Newspapers Publications.

As with other Newspapers the Daily Mail is moving from Fleet Street, and new editorial offices are being established in Knightsbridge. This will entail the move to Knightsbridge by editorial staff and journalists over the next two years with different papers being prepared in different locations.

Access to the Library is vital to journalists for references, information and legal advice, thus early in 1987 an investigation into ‘modernising’ the cuttings Library was carried out, at first Optical Disc Storage systems were investigated. It was discovered that with an investment of £1.5 to £3.5 million all the clippings could, after 18 months intensive work, be put on to discs. This system would enable the journalist to key in to the Library via his personal computer and gain direct access to the files. There was however the proviso that the system could only be used by one journalist at a time and that queuing would become inevitable.

As the journalist would require a print out of up to twenty pages at a time, calculation showed that the system could only support six journalists and that more requests than this would cause a “ log jam ” .

An independent consultant was asked to review the proposals and having recalculated all the costings advised that an optical disc system would cost up to £7 million.

He suggested that Microfiche storage should be considered, and following demonstrations and visits to the Financial Times and the Boston Globe Libraries a decision was made to install A. B. Dick Updatable Microfiche Systems.

In September 1987 a single model 821 was installed for trials, and after completion in January 1988 two more camera processors and two A. B. Dick Diazo Duplicators were installed in March 1988.

Currently the newspaper clippings are made and stored as they have been since 1896. Additionally the clippings are being recorded on to Updatable fiche, one fiche for each subject.

The fiche is classified in the same way as the clippings. When a fiche is called for, the journalist is given a diazo duplicate of the fiche which he can read on a viewer and from which a hard copy can be made if required on a reader printer.

The system has been found highly acceptable for the following reasons: (a) There has been no change to existing filing procedures. (b) The filing and retrieval is not dependent upon an electronic index and is thus available at all times. (c) The fiche is updatable. New information can be added and warnings of “ Legal Action” are overprinted when a matter is taken to the court. (A similar overprinted warning was put on the original clipping when appropriate). (d) The record image is positive right reading and thus photographs and pictures are easily seen, read and reproduced. (e) The duplicate fiche has the same reading characteristics, is non returnable and can be taken away from the building if necessary (a vital restriction with the original paper based store).

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The system is secure, there will be no loss of clippings and multiple access is easily arranged. A second library will be established for each newspaper to speed up access and when required, the fiche can be digitised for electronic transmission through a mega stream-line to be printed out on a laser printer in the journalist’s office.

In the future when optical disc or computer storage has been standardised and improved to dispense with random filing, it will be possible, if thought advantageous, to transfer the information from the file via a digitiser to the electronic store.

N.B. A. B. Dick will be offering a new storage medium based on crystal flow technology which will meet these criteria.

Contact: Mr. P. Leeson-Smith, A. B. Dick Ltd., 3 Warple Way, Acton, London W3 ORH. Tel: 01-740 6500.

Telex: 264443 DICKGB G. Fax: 01-749 1350.

Supply o f M ic ro film Equipm ent B e x le y LONDON BOROUGH +

We are about to invite tenders for the supply of two major items of microfilm equipment: a A3 reader printer capable of printing back from 16mm microfilm jackets, 16mm and 35mm combination jackets, 35mm aperture cards and both 16mm and 35mm rollfilm. b High speed diazo microfiche duplicator.

Suppliers who wish to be considered for inclusion in the Council's tender list are invited to apply in writing to the address below indicating the equipment they would propose supplying to meet these requirements. Applicants should in addition give some indication of approximate price; this is in no way to be construed as a tendered price but merely as a guideline.

Management Secretary Bexley London Borough Room 315 Bexley Civic Offices Broadway Bexleyheath Kent DA6 7LB

The M icrographics Market Place

For Your Diary 22nd - 26th August 1988 Archiv ’88 Palais des Congr£s, Paris, France.

Contact: Nathalie Raissac Jarrard, Comity des Expositions de Paris, 7 Rue Copernic, 75782 Paris Cedex 16France.

Tel: (33-1)45 05 14 37.

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24th-28 th October 1988 International Business Show Earls Court, London, U.K. Contact: Guy Roukaerts or Mike Shinn, AGB Exhibitions Ltd., Audit House, Field End Road, Eastcote, Ruislip, Middlesex HA4 9LT. Tel: 01-868 4499. Fax: 01-4293117.

30th November —3rd December 1988 Japan Office ’88 Tokyo Ryutsu Centre, Japan.

Contact: Ursula Bale, Overseas Trade Show Agencies Ltd., i Manchester Square, London W 1M 5AB. 11 Tel: 01-4861951. Telex: 24591 M O NTEX G. 'I Fax: 01-486 8773.

6 th - 8th December 1988 Infomatics ’88 Ocean Terminal, Hong Kong.

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Contact: IMC, P.O. Box 34404, Bethesda, MD 20817, U.S.A. Tel: (301) 983-0604. Telex: 6174921 IM C UW.

Apologies In the previous issue of The Micrographics Market Place we included, on this page, information concerning Info ’88 in June, Info North ’88 in September and the London Business Show ’88 also due to take place in September.

Due to circumstances beyond our control, the news that none of these exhibitions would now take place, did not reach here until after publication date.

Please accept my apologies if this false information caused any of our readers any inconvenience.

See you in Paris I look forward to meeting some of our readers at Archiv ’88 in Paris in August, where I (Editor —Tim Nixon) will be representing the Micrographics Market Place.

It will be the first time that the magazine will actually have its own stand (Stand No. F39) and will be there at the invitation of the organisers, the Comite des Expositions de Paris.

I hope that it will give us an opportunity to strengthen our European bond and, hopefully, to increase our circulation.

All advertising copy, editorial material or enquiries to be directed to:Tim Nixon, The Micrographics Market Place, 65 Winchester Drive, Burbage, Leics. LE10 2BA Tel: Hinckley (0455) 632523

HMSL Group, an expanding microfilm systems company established for over 10 years, require

A

oaico

SERVICE

Experienced professional sales personnel to sell our range of microfilm equipment and bureau services in London and the Home Counties.

Additional service personnel with experience of working in a service environment, to install and maintain microfilm equipment in London and the Home Counties.

On ta rg e t earnings of m ore than

An excellent package including

£ 2 5 ,0 0 0 p.a.

ATTR AC TIVE SALARY

plus

plus

C O M P A N Y CAR

C O M P A N Y CAR

Successful sales experience is essential and knowledge of microfilm desirable, though not essential as full training will be given.

Experience of microfilm equipment would be an advantage but full training will be given. A sound knowledge of electronics is necessary.

HIJISL The M icrographics Market Place

(N egotiable)

Please apply to

Mr. S.A. Vasili, HM SL Group Ltd., 12a Caxton Hill, Hertford, Herts. SG13 7NF.

Tel: (0992) 500555

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MICROFILM MANAGEMENT Britannia House Glenthorne Road London W6 OLF Telephone: 01-748 9898 Telex: 916107

SUPPLIERS AND BUYERS OF HIGH QUALITY USED MICROFILM PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT JUNE SPECIALS SAM Card Mounter 3M 624 Reader Printer Maul Sorter SO 801 MF G A F16/35 Vented i Blip Filemaster & ABR 415 Kodak MRD 2 | Xerox 980 Printer Schaut 35mm Processor Camera

All Equipment for Sale or Rental Up to date Stock Details available upon request.

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The M icrographics Market Place