Graphic professionals require advanced and specialized tools for success in today’s competitive graphic publishing market. This need has been forefront in the minds of Xante leaders since Robert C. Ross, Jr. founded the Mobile, Alabama-based company in 1989.
After earning a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alabama, Ross continued his training in the laser printer industry working as a lead engineer and a product manager for PostScript printer products at QMS, Inc. In 1989, his determination to produce high-resolution laser printer upgrade products with increased RAM led him to create Xante Corporation.
In 1991, Xante delivered advanced resolution capabilities to the graphic publishing market with the introduction of the Accel-a-Writer upgrade controller for Apple LaserWriter printers. The performance increases offered by the Accel-a- Writer upgrade products quickly grew a devoted fan base, encouraging Xante to develop its first turnkey printer product. The Accel-a-Writer 8000 laser printer began shipping in 1992.
One year later, Xante forged a partnership that equipped its strong printing solutions with a standard in security and reliability in the printing industry. In 1993, a co-development agreement was signed with Adobe™ Systems that gave Xante source code rights to Adobe PostScript Level 2 software. Being a member of the Adobe co-development program enabled Xante to couple its proprietary technology with the industry standard printer language, Adobe PostScript. In 1994, Xante shipped the Accel-a-Writer 8200, the first in a series of high-performance, high-resolution printers that won the 1994 MacUser Editor’s Choice Award for Best New Monochrome Printer.
Because Xante was founded on the principles of engineering and innovation, Xante CTP solutions are continually improved using patented technologies such as More X-ACT™ (Xante Accurate Calibration Technology) and NEIT (Negative Enhanced Imaging Technology). In 1997, the FilmMaker product, the first desktop film system designed for computer-to-film printing, made its debut based on these technologies. The same year, Xante announced the addition of the ScreenWriter product to their portfolio, which produced high quality film positives for an abundance of specialty items including t-shirts, hats,cups, and more.
In 1998, Xante announced a technology and marketing agreement with Agfa-Gevaert Group to advance the use and improvement of computer-to-plate technologies. Under the agreement, Xante is the sole worldwide provider of the Myriad 2 polyester plate (developed for Xante by Agfa). With all of these accomplishments in monochrome imaging, in 2001, Xante released the CL21 printer, and it became the company’s first step into color laser printing. In 2003, the CL30 printer, recipient of Macworld Editors’ Choice Award, and the CL30 HSE printer, were both introduced. The Ilumina Digital Color Press, announced in 2005, is designed for on-demand color printing on heavy papers up to 427 g/m2. This digital color press handles a wide array of jobs from lightweight flyers to heavyweight postcards at speeds up to 2,000 sheets per hour. The Ilumina was awarded a 5-star rating by Macworld UK and listed as a finalist in the 2006 Macworld Awards, Editors’ Choice (Print Imaging Category). That same year, Xante introduced the PlateMaker 5 total prepress system that produces polyester plates, film, paper proofs, and is driven by Z-7 technology.
Xante completed the acquisition of two companies in 2007, RIPit Imaging Systems, Inc. (Sacramento,CA) and Exxtra Imaging Systems, Inc. (Hauppauge, New York). With this purchase came several products that helped Xante expand into newer markets, and add to an already impressive Xante product line. These products include: the Symphony Workflow, large format VM series violet metal platesetters and the SpeedSetter series of polyester imaging systems. The easy-to-use P24 PlateRunner processor is designed to process a wide range of violet-sensitive photopolymer plate products. Both the Symphony Flexo Workflow RIP software (for Flexo print shops) and the award-winning Symphony Workflow software are based on an Adobe® PostScript® 3™ RIP and support the Adobe PDF Print Engine (APPE).
Xante continues to bring production automation to digital print shops with the introduction of the new Ilumina Digital Color Press series. In late 2008, Xante unveiled the Ilumina Digital Envelope Press+ as the new cost effective solution for printing on-demand, variable data, full color envelopes, cards, and sheets. The high capacity feeder holds up to 600 #10, window, and large envelopes up to 13” x 22”, 4,000 sheets of 20lb bond paper, or print full color cards up to 14pt/307 gsm. In 2009, Xante released the latest series, the Ilumina Digital Production Press as the new affordable solution that allows you to meet the demand for short to medium run full color sheets, cards, banners, envelopes, and prints on a wide variety of media from standard bond to specialty papers, heavy cover stocks, label stocks, and magnetic media.
The Xante product portfolio now encompasses proven, process-free CTP devices including the popular PlateMaker Polyester CTP Systems. Xante’s Digital Press line, the Ilumina High-Definition Digital Color Press Series- includes the Ilumina 330 GL, Ilumina 502 GS, Ilumina Digital Envelope Press GS, and Ilumina Digital Production Press GS; Ilumina 650 GS, Ilumina 650 Production Press GS, Ilumina Digital Envelope Press GT and Ilumina Digital ProductionPress GT. Xante’s expansive product line also includes the Impressia Digital Multi-Media Press and the Enterprise High Speed Feed System as well as the Excelagraphix 4200.
The Impressia Digital Print System delivers fast full color results on a wider variety of media: letterhead, cards, envelopes, forms, brochures, mailers, labels, banners and much more. It also allows you to print on a large variety of sheet sizes so you can produce more in-house and on-demand. With the Impressia Digital Print System you can print as many as 80 full color envelopes per minute with a warm up time of less than 60 seconds. Users are able to print on a wide range of stocks such as: uncoated, coated, NCR, card stocks, textured stocks, label stocks and envelopes with resolutions as high as 2400 dpi for exceptional sharpness, clarity and color quality. The Impressia features rapid speeds capable of printing variable data in a single pass. It’s modern and simple design handles a number of different sizes an weights with ease and efficiency. The adjustable side guides make it easy to accommodate different media sizes by simply sliding the guides to perfectly fit your media selection.
The Excelagraphix 4200 offers customers the ability to print custom full containers in a matter of seconds. This powerful digital package printing solution is powered by Memjet Waterfall Printhead Technology. It delivers more than 3 billion drops of ink her seconds with print speeds 8 times faster than traditional inkjet technology. The Excelagraphix 4200 can print up to 12” per second at 1600 x 800 dpi and up to 6” per second at 1600 x 1600 dpi. Users can print variable data at full speed with sheets up to 42” wide x 8′ long. The adjustable feed path can handle heavy stocks up to 5/8” thick for packaging, signage, displays and more in less than a minute. Xante’s software includes Symphony, Symphony Flexo Workflows and iQueue Production Workflow.
Xante’s latest software technology includes the iQueue Pro and iQueue Ultimate all-in-one RIP workflow. The latest installment in the iQueue series features a universal print driver compatible with any Adobe PostScript printer in your network. It gives you complete color control over your materials with independent CMYK Density Control which allows you to increase or decrease the CMYK color density or edit Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black individually. The variable data manager allows users to generate personalized data into digital files that reside in iQueue. iQueue also gives you the option to generate Intelligent Mail bar codes so you can track anything shipped through the USPS. Other notable new features of iQueue Ultimate workflow are: QR code generator, spot color creator, right on spot color matching system, smart job cost estimating, consumable usage monitoring, full imposition, tiling and JDF compliance. This broad offering provides a comprehensive range of products and software solutions to professional imaging markets worldwide.
Xante products are distributed globally through a growing network of distributors and resellers. The company continues to expand its market appeal by delivering platesetters and workflow solutions that fit the needs of small to mid-sized print shops. However, delivering products with superior technology and applicable real-world benefits isn’t enough. Xante also strives to provide superior service and support through accessible, skilled technical support experts and reliable warranty protection policies.
Xante corporate headquarters, located in Mobile, Alabama, consists of professional staff focused upon engineering development, sales, support, marketing, training, service, inventory and distribution. Xante Europe has continued to grow in response to customer needs. Located in Duiven, the Netherlands, a multi-lingual staff dedicated to serving Xante customers globally by focusing on local sales, support, training, inventory and distribution. Xante also opened a new office in Zhengzhou, China to provide local sales and support to the Pacific Rim with an additional U.S. location in Sacramento, California.
The Xante management team includes: Robert Ross, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO); J.Mark Swanzy, Chief Operating Officer (COO); Mary Ann Harris, Chief Financial Officer (CFO); Kenneth O. Parker, Vice President of Engineering; Arthur Verwey, Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, OEM Sales and Business Development; Pat Dooley, Vice President of Manufacturing, Inventory and Distribution. Xante is dedicated to continuing the tradition of providing customers with leading-edge technology for the graphic publishing market. Exceptional products will continue to be offered, backed by service and support that is unmatched in this industry.
