CARLSBAD, Calif. and NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 6, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Dot Hill Systems Corp., (NYSE:HIL) a leading provider of carrier-class information storage and storage area network (SAN) solutions, and Blanchard Systems, Inc., a computer systems integration company and value-added reseller working exclusively within the graphic arts industry, announced today that they have partnered to offer complete SAN solutions to the pre-press market. After extensive testing, Dot Hill's SANnet(r) storage systems have been certified as "best-of-breed" by Blanchard Systems for its Vortex pre-press solutions. Blanchard will recommend, resell and integrate SANnet into Vortex solutions for its customers who include leading printers, pre-press service bureaus and publishers.
Through its exhaustive research and development of integrated systems, Blanchard developed Vortex, a system of integrated solutions combining best-of-breed hardware and software that are specifically designed to meet the needs of the pre-press, printing and publishing industry. As an infinitely flexible solution, Vortex not only eliminates bottlenecks in pre-press systems; it also increases clients' efficiencies and enables them to achieve greater profitability.
Dot Hill's Chief Executive Officer Jim Lambert said, "We believe that SANnet is an excellent fit for Blanchard's Vortex solutions, and we look forward to working with them to offer the best value to their customers. We believe that our expertise with storage area networks and open systems architecture, combined with Blanchard's knowledge of pre-press systems integration, will offer customers an important value-added solution. We are extremely impressed with Blanchard's commitment to and strategic focus on this market. Blanchard is quickly establishing itself as the 'go-to source' for SANs in the pre-press sector."
Charles Blanchard, Jr., founder and president of Blanchard Systems, said, "At Blanchard, we have extensive experience in providing digital pre-press solutions to the graphic arts industry that increase productivity and automate workflow. Our customers depend on us to use this expertise to offer them the best possible solutions that incorporate open standards. After extensive benchmark testing, we selected Dot Hill's SANnet storage systems to be the recommended "best-of-breed" storage component for our Vortex pre-press solutions."
About Dot Hill
Dot Hill is a leading independent provider of carrier-class data storage solutions and services. With SANnet solutions that include storage area networks, NEBS Level 3 certified systems for Telco and Internet operations, and world-class service capabilities, Dot Hill is uniquely positioned to address the storage requirements of mission-critical continuous computing environments. Dot Hill's customers include many of the world's leading Internet service providers, common carriers, service and equipment providers, advanced technology and telecommunications companies, and government agencies. Dot Hill is an ISO 9002 certified company, and its Web site is www.dothill.com.
About Blanchard Systems
Blanchard Systems, Inc. is a computer systems integration company and value-added reseller working exclusively within the graphic arts industry. Blanchard Systems delivers intelligent integration of digital pre-press systems by providing clients the best solutions for optimal performance and return on their investment. With their extensive experience and expertise in pre-press production, Blanchard offers an intelligent approach for integrating digital pre-press solutions that automate preflighting and workflow production from ripping, trapping, proofing and color management to networking and server solutions including SAN, RAID, backup and archival. Blanchard's Web site is www.blanchardsystems.com.
SANnet is a registered trademark and Dot Hill and the Dot Hill logo are trademarks of Dot Hill Systems Corp. All other products and names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Certain statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical fact are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such statements include the future availability of SANnet, as well as the amount of revenue to be realized by Dot Hill due to its alliance with Blanchard Systems, Inc. The risks that contribute to the uncertain nature of the forward-looking statements include: the terms of the relationship with Blanchard Systems, Inc., which do not provide for any minimum purchase amount and any unforeseen technological, intellectual property or engineering issues and changing customer preferences. However, there are many other risks not listed here that may affect the future business of Dot Hill, as well as the forward-looking statements contained herein. To learn about such risks and uncertainties, you should read the risk factors set forth in the forms 10K and 10Q recently filed by Dot Hill. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Dot Hill undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.