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IT Reseller November 2002
IT Reseller, October 2002
AFX NEWS, 16 September 2002
SHARES, issue 36, 5 - 11 September 2002
OXFORD MAIL, 04 September 2002
WESTERN DAILY PRESS, 03 September 2002
Paul Cooper's Bowman contract award interview
DOW JONES INTERNATIONAL NEWS, 02 September 2002
NOTHING-VENTURED.COM, 02 September 2002
TIMES BUSINESS & SPORT, 03 September 2002
GUARDIAN, 03 September 2002
ATX News, 03 September 2002
BLAZEPOINT WIN £4.25M 'BOWMAN' BRITISH ARMY CONTRACT

IT Reseller, November 2002

European offerings unveiled

The first Data Capture Europe event was held recently in Köln, aimed at promoting ADC channels and links with other technologies. Here we look at a selection of the printing products on show at the convention:

Some of the new printers on show from Blazepoint were effectively PCs. Available in the new TRIO label printer range, powerful processors have been introduced to provide fast formatting of complex labels containing barcodes, text and graphics, but the PC-like quality opens up a wide range of applications. The device could for instance, become a server in itself, driving a network of other printers.

The TRIO label printers use direct thermal/thermal transfer technology designed for applications where long-life printing results are crucial. The TRIO provides printing speeds of up to 10 inches per second in an industrial grade metal case capable of working in toughest environments. The printer is available with a 200 and 300 dpi print head. The series will be available in 10 versions. The introduction of the TRIO was part of a launch of the company's own range of bar code label printers. The range, marketed under the brand "Blazeprint" is designed combining a high performance printer capability with compactness, ruggedness and innovative technical standards. The printers will be distributed via a network of partners across Europe.

The other group of printers launched at Data Capture Europe by Blazepoint was the DUO - a direct thermal printers housed in a tough all-metal chassis designed to withstand harshest environments. Print speeds of up to 10 inches per second are designed for fast throughput and high-volume printing. Its high performance and economic price make this printer series the market leader in price-performance in its class. Its small footprint makes it useful where space is at a premium.

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IT Reseller, October 2002

Blazeprint - rugged, innovative label printer range guarantees VAR's to make the margins they need

Blazepoint will launch its new range of high-quality barcode label printers at Data Capture Europe in Cologne at the beginning of November. The printer range, marketed under the brand "Blazeprint" is combining a high performance printer capability with compactness, ruggedness and innovative technical standards.

Blazepoint welcome OEM's and true VAR's who are looking to support complex solutions and to add a service component to their Auto ID Solution. The company is keen to build strategic partnerships in geographical and vertical markets across Europe.

Janet Barraclough, General Manager at Blazepoint, explains: "Analyst houses have recently been reporting that hardware sales are in decline and with the entry of American style distribution into the EMEA traditional Auto ID arena, dissatisfied resellers are looking to diversify. They do not want to be left in a position where having sold an idea to the customer they are undercut on price by a box shifter. The most successful resellers have understood the need to provide higher margin solutions around the latest technologies and are looking to find vendor partners to help them add true value. Avoiding price wars has highest priority in most channels minds. Businesses may be able to buy the same box from several different suppliers; but only by packaging a more bespoke product can VAR's make the margins needed to support an installation."

Blazepoint, who have an impressive track record in the development of bespoke printer solutions for defence and commercial markets, have developed a competitive, high-quality label printer range. In addition to these standard products Blazepoint's team of experienced industrial designers and engineers is able to provide OEM's and VAR's with customised barcode printers, which can be integrated into their higher-margin Auto ID Solution.

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AFX NEWS, 16 September 2002

Blazepoint pulls out of Montal acquisition after failure to agree new terms

LONDON (AFX) - Blazepoint Group PLC, the computer hardware maker, said it has withdrawn from the agreement to buy a stake in Montal Group Ltd after the companies failed to agree new terms for the deal.

Under the original agreement, Blazepoint was to buy an initial 33.33 pct of IT services group Montal, with an option on remaining 66.6 pct stake. The maximum price for the entire shareholding in Montal was set at 1.5 mln stg.

Blazepoint said today that following a detailed due diligence exercise it has sought to amend the original terms of the deal. However Montal was "unable to reach agreement on the new terms", it said.

Paul Cooper, managing director of Blazepoint, said: "I am disappointed that the acquisition didn't proceed. However, terms could not be agreed and we would only have moved forward with the deal if it enhanced shareholder value."

He added that Blazepoint will continue to seek appropriate value-adding acquisitions to enhance its existing businesses.

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SHARES, issue 36, 5 - 11 September 2002

Printer maker blazes a new communications trail

by: Michelle Baltazar
Ruggedised printer maker Blazepoint (AIM: BLZ) has won its biggest contract ever since it listed on the junior market last summer.
The group has secured a £4.25 million deal from General Dynamics UK, the company contracted out by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to modernise the British Army's communication system over the next 30 years.
Under the deal, Blazepoint will make 2,000 ruggedised (toughened-up) printers that are compatible with a new communication system called Bowman, set to replace a 25-year-old technology currently used by the UK armed forces. By 2007, 18,000 army vehicles will be equipped with this new system.
Hence, the deal could be just the start of more defence contracts to come. Blazepoint's shares rose 17% to 1.75p on the news.
Speculative buy.

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OXFORD MAIL, 04 September 2002

Printers ordered to front

Computer hardware manufacturer Blazepoint has won a key military order. The company, based in Chalgrove, has secured a £4.25m contract to supply its rugged printers for the Bowman communications system for the British Army.

Blazepoint chairman Roger Wadsworth, and managing director Paul Cooper are pictured (see pdf). The contract has come from lead contractor General Dynamics and agreement has been reached for further work for the project. Bowman is a digital voice and data communication system for the Army. It will replace 25-year-old systems. Mr Cooper said: "We believe the printer will become the market leader and standard for defence printer applications."

Please click here to download a pdf (30 KB) version of this press cutting.

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WESTERN DAILY PRESS, 03 September 2002

Hardware that can take a rap

Old-fashioned British Army communications equipment which cannot cope with desert heat is to be given a hi-tech upgrade by Oxfordshire firm Blazepoint. Shares in the group leapt 33 per cent to 2p at news of a £4.3million contract to modify computer printers for use in extreme conditions on 2,000 army vehicles. The printers will allow personnel to transmit complex information such as maps of enemy positions.

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Paul Cooper's Bowman contract award interview

To listen to Paul Cooper's Bowman contract award interview on Radio Oxford please click here (3101kb).

To view the BBC's news report about Blazepoint's Bowman contract award please click to one of the links below:

Broadband (500k) (size: 2788kb)
ISDN (128k) (size: 1444kb)
Modem (56k) (size: 517kb)

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DOW JONES INTERNATIONAL NEWS, 02 September 2002

Blazepoint Group Wins GBP4.25 Million Supply Contract.

LONDON -(Dow Jones)-Blazepoint Group, the specialist computer hardware manufacturer, Monday said that it has been awarded a GBP4.25 million contract from General Dynamics United Kingdom Ltd ("General Dynamics U.K."), the prime contractor for the BOWMAN Communication System, to supply ruggedized printer that are compatible with the BOWMAN system. Blazepoint has also signed a Heads of Agreement with General Dynamics U.K. for further contracts related to the BOWMAN project.
BOWMAN is a digital voice and data communication system for the U.K. armed forces and will replace a technology that is now 25 years old. By 2007, all 18,000 army vehicles will be equipped with the new system and the 60,000 service personnel will be trained accordingly.
Blazepoint will supply General Dynamics U.K. with 1,989 HQP ruggedised A4 printers and has already started shipping some of the printers to General Dynamics. The initial order will cover the General Dynamics U.K.'s recently won contract to provide an infrastructure to support digitalisation applications over the next 30 years for the British Army.
Paul Cooper, Managing Director of Blazepoint Group plc, said: "The defence division of our business is making excellent progress and we anticipate further major contract wins this year."

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NOTHING-VENTURED.COM, 02 September 2002

Blazepoint: Up 33% on army contract

Shares in the specialist computer hardware manufacturer are up 0.5p to 2p after it was awarded a £4.25m contract to supply ruggedised computer printers for use in British army vehicles.

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TIMES BUSINESS & SPORT, 03 September 2002

Biggest price movements of the day

.... Blazepoint .................... 2p (+1/2p) ........................... Contract win

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GUARDIAN, 03 September 2002

Moving up

.... Blazepoint .............2.00 (+0.5p) Explanation: £4.25m contract win from General Dynamics

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ATX News, 03 September 2002

Blazepoint wins 4.25 mln stg MOD contract; upbeat on defence division ops

LONDON (AFX) - Blazepoint Group PLC said it has won a 4.25 mln stg contract from General Dynamics United Kingdom Ltd, the prime contractor for the BOWMAN Communication System, to supply ruggedized printers that are compatible with the BOWMAN system.

Blazepoint has also signed a Heads of Agreement with General Dynamics UK for further contracts related to the BOWMAN project.

BOWMAN is a secure digital voice and data communication system for the UK armed forces and will replace a technology that is now 25 years old.

By 2007, all 18,000 army vehicles will be equipped with the new system and the 60,000 service personnel will be trained accordingly, it added.

Paul Cooper, Managing Director said: "The defence division of our business is making excellent progress and we anticipate further major contract wins this year as we develop standard products that are critical to, and compatible with, prime defence contractor's needs. Specifically, we believe that the printer product range which Blazepoint is using for the BOWMAN project will become the market leader and standard for defence printer applications."

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BLAZEPOINT WIN £4.25M 'BOWMAN' BRITISH ARMY CONTRACT

Blazepoint Group plc, the specialist computer hardware manufacturer today announced that it has been awarded a £4.25m contract from General Dynamics United Kingdom Ltd, the prime contractor for the BOWMAN Communication System, to supply ruggedised printers that are compatible with the BOWMAN system. Blazepoint has also signed a Heads of Agreement with General Dynamics for further contracts related to the BOWMAN project.

BOWMAN is a secure digital voice and data communication system for the UK armed forces and will replace a technology that is now 25 years old. By 2007, all 18,000 army vehicles will be equipped with the new system and the 60,000 service personnel will be trained accordingly.

Blazepoint will supply General Dynamics UK with 1989 HQP ruggedised A4 printers and has already started shipping some of the printers to General Dynamics. The ruggedisation and certification will be to the rigorous standards demanded by the MOD. The initial order will cover the General Dynamics UK’s recently won contract to provide an infrastructure to support digitisation applications over the next 30 years for the British Army.

Paul Cooper, Managing Director of Blazepoint Group plc, said: “The defence division of our business is making excellent progress and we anticipate further major contract wins this year as we develop standard products that are critical to, and compatible with, prime defence contractor’s needs. Specifically we believe that the printer product range which Blazepoint is using for the BOWMAN project will become the market leader and standard for defence printer applications.”

Jonathan Murday, BOWMAN Programme Manager for General Dynamics UK added: “The MoD are undergoing the largest defence communications programme in the UK for 50 years. General Dynamics UK welcomes Blazepoint onto the BOWMAN team providing their well designed and good value printer products."

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