Company: ZINK Imaging, Bedford, Massachusetts
Entry Submitted By: Lois Paul & Partners
Company Description: ZINK Imaging, a privately held company, was founded to enable millions of customers to enjoy the magic of ZINKTM Zero InkTM products. ZINK Imaging is headquartered in Massachusetts, with a state of the art manufacturing facility in North Carolina. For more information, please visit www.ZINK.com.
Nomination Category: Product & Service Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best New Product of the Year

Nomination Title: ZINK™ Paper

1. Describe for the judges the nominated product, including its features and benefits (up to 500 words). Include in this section the date during the eligibility period on which the product was first introduced to the marketplace:

In the past 12 months ZINK Imaging has completed development of the ZINK
PaperTM technology and has put into place a worldwide partner network has
brought the first ZINKTM-enabled product to market in July, 2008.

ZINK Imaging has invented the first disruptive printing technology in more than a
decade— the world’s first printing technology that does not require ink cartridges
or ink ribbons.

While traditional printing industry leaders such as HP and Kodak are looking for
low-cost ink cartridge solutions to make printing easier, ZINKTM has developed a
disruptive technology that will fundamentally change the way people print their
digital images while offering the freedom to print images on-the-go. Through OEM
partnerships the first ZINKTM-enabled product, a mobile printer, has made it to
store shelves in the U.S. and Europe and an integrated digital camera/printer, will
soon be available to consumers.

Printers using ZINKTM Technology do not require ink cartridges or ribbons so they
are extremely small -- in fact, they can be pocket sized and can be embedded into
almost any electronic device. ZINKTM printers print quickly, in a single pass at a
consistent speed and quality and regardless of the print width. With ZINKTM,
almost anything can become a printer, making printing an anytime, anywhere
experience.

The key is in the Paper.
The ZINK PaperTM is protected by more than 100 patents and patents pending.
ZINKTM has successfully embedded dye crystals into what looks like regular
photo paper but is actually an advanced composite material with a protective
polymer overcoat layer outside. The dye crystals, which are colorless, become
colored when a print head heats and activates them using a combination of time
and temperature. The result is high quality, long-lasting, durable images that are
dry upon production and can even be dunked in water.

Finally, the ZINKTM Technology provides six new disruptive benefits:

• Design versatility: ZINKTM unleashes printer innovation and design
o By removing the space required for ink cartridges or ribbons, ZINKTM
printers can be extremely small.
o ZINKTM printers are not affected by gravity.
o ZINKTM printers can be embedded into other consumer electronics
devices transforming virtually anything into a printer.
• Durable prints: Engineered to withstand the rigors of everyday life
o ZINK PaperTM is made from a resilient composite structure that
protects and preserves the printed image for a long life.
o ZINK PaperTM is always dry and is not light sensitive like yesterday’s
film.
• No hidden costs: ZINKTM is the best printing value
o ZINK PaperTM is the only supply you need to print. There is no ink or
other hidden costs.
• Fast speed
o ZINKTM prints in a single pass at a consistent speed and quality and
regardless of the print width.
• Radical simplicity: Zero InkTM, Zero hassles. Just add paper
o Just add paper and you’re ready to print.
• Earth friendly: Nothing to throw away
o The ZINKTM printing process leaves no waste stream. The photo itself
is the only artifact of the printing process.

2. List the URLs (web addresses) of any online news stories, press releases, product photographs, logos, or other documents that you would like the judges to see that support your entry. IMPORTANT: List each URL on a separate line, begin each URL with http://, and enclose each URL in square brackets. For example, [http://www.yourcompany.com/pressrelease.html]:

Wendy Caswell named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist:
http://www.zink.com/assets/pdf/ZINK_momentum_release.pdf
ZINK Imaging receives Computerworld Horizon award:
http://www.zink.com/assets/pdf/zink_imaging_computerworld_horizon_award.pdf
ZINK Imaging named a Business 2.0 Disruptor:
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2007/09/01/100169862/index.htm
ZINK Imaging wins Laptop Mobile Maverick award:
http://www.laptopmag.com/features/Mobile-Maverick-Awards-2007
BusinessWeek:
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jan2007/tc20070131_688495.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_businessweek+exclusives
Wall Street Journal:
http://solution.allthingsd.com/20080618/polaroid-portable-printer-may-be-hard-sell/
VentureBeat:
http://venturebeat.com/2008/07/01/zink-and-polaroids-inkless-printers-hit-stores-this-sunday/
PC Magazine:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2321769,00.asp
CNN:
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/05/22/digitalbiz.zink/
The New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/13/technology/13novel.html?_r=3&ref=technology&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
The Boston Globe:
http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2008/03/16/polaroids_entrepreneurial_legacy/
MIT Technology Review:
http://www.zink.com/assets/pdf/Techrev_article_001.pdf
Forbes.com:
http://www.forbes.com/claytonchristensen/2008/02/14/emerging-technologies-microsoft-leadership-clayton-in_0214claytonchristensen_inl.html

3. Provide a brief biography of the person or persons who lead the team that developed the nominated new product (up to 100 words):

Before joining ZINK Imaging as President and CEO in 2005, Wendy was Executive
Vice President leading Corporate Strategy & Business Development activities for
Polaroid Corporation. There she led all initiatives aimed at expanding the scope of
Polaroid's business and spearheaded incubation of ZINK Imaging’s technology.
Wendy joined Polaroid from Ammasso, Inc. a venture-funded company that she co-
founded. Prior to Ammasso Wendy was instrumental in launching Converge, Inc.
Wendy joined Converge from Compaq Computer Corporation where she served as
Vice President Corporate Strategy. Prior to Compaq, she served 12 years at
Digital Equipment Corporation culminating in her appointment as Vice President
Corporate Strategic Planning.