Konica Minolta announces at the K-Show in D?sseldorf today a collaboration agreement with Ciba Specialty Chemicals to market the Ciba 'COLIBRI' product line of color managing software and related Services in Europe. "The combined expertise of the two companies will set new standards in equipment and customer support," said Andreas Ullrich, Head of Marketing + Sales at Konica Minolta Instrument Systems Division. "The collaboration will allow customers in the plastics, paints and graphic arts industries to benefit both from Konica Minolta's strong competencies in color measurement instrumentation and from Ciba Specialty Chemicals' expertise in color measurement software."

Besides distributing the COLIBRI? software product line, Konica Minolta will be able to exploit the strong support organization of Ciba? Color Services by also offering a complete range of services, including database services, technical support and in-depth training for color matching and quality control.

The COLIBRITM line consists of a variety of software products and services related to colorants, color matching, quality control and know-how exchange. The centerpiece of this product line is Ciba? COLIBRI? QuickMatch, the new color-matching software system for easy, efficient recipe formulation. Tailored to the needs of all the relevant industries, including plastics, coatings and inks, it covers all opaque, transparent and translucent colorant applications. It is easy to use and enhances productivity, thanks to integrated tools such as color libraries, catalogues and an expert system that provides data on light and weather fastness as well as other properties.