I-Mark™ Compact, Single-Board Controller
For Original Equipment Manufacturers

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, August 27, 2001 - I-Mark™ a new Matthews OEM Controller that provides multi-functional, single-board control of print heads and other devices for product marking and automation, has been introduced by Matthews International, Marking Products Division.

The new system offers original equipment manufacturers and system integrators a broad range of connectivity from the popular small character ink-jet printer, the Matthews Jet-A-Mark® S.C.I. F.I.™ 3200, to many other automation devices. These include PLC's, Warning Lights, conveyor & material handling equipment, scales and bar code readers. The system can interface up to 64 nodes with a maximum of 126 addresses. By providing common interfacing and similar user-software, the I-Mark controller eliminates the requirement for a separate operator interface and controller, simplifying application programming and operation.

What makes the I-Mark unique to Matthews is the ability to reside on a CAN-based network. The current CAN-based systems include DeviceNet and SDS. introduction of SDS, which stands for Smart Distributed System. The Smart Distributed System is an advanced bus system, or data highway, for intelligent electronic devices such as sensors, actuators and motion controllers. Such devices are deployed in the industrial and packaging markets served by Matthews today. This Controller Area Network, or CAN-based network, open at both the control and device levels, streamlines the installation process, optimizes machine applications, and empowers device inputs and outputs to operate at levels you never thought possible. Combining the power of CAN technology and intelligent I/O devices, the Smart Distributed System provides a truly integrated marking solution.

The I-Mark can be used in combination with advanced CAN (Controller Area Network) systems, including SDS (Smart Distributed System), DeviceNet devices as well as Ethernet and standard serial interfaces. By integrating CAN technology and intelligent I/O devices, the system gives a fully integrated solution for marking machine applications and streamlines the installation process. It also features advanced system and device diagnostics.

For more information about the I-Mark, Control Module contact Matthews International Corporation, Marking Products Division, 6515 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. Telephone: 412-665-2500. Fax: 412-365-2042. Web site: www.matthewsmarking.com.