HP's imaging and printing division has launched new platforms aimed at specific markets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The new systems combine hardware, software and services to tackle specific industry needs in financial services, public sector and retail.

HP said that it wants to optimise infrastructure, streamline information workflows, manage print environments and reduce costs.

The markets have been singled out as they have very high printing requirements and stand to benefit the most from specifically developed technologies, according to the vendor.

Campus Advantage is targeted at the higher education sector and enables universities and colleges to make the most of imaging and printing resources while making printing and copying simpler and easier for users.

The combination delivers hardware, services and capabilities ranging from mobile printing and user-based per-page accounting, to the consolidation of copying, scanning, imaging and printing devices in a secure networked environment with user authentication.

Compliant Document Capture for Financial Services aims to help financial institutions streamline critical document workflows while providing increased document security, audit trails and archival capabilities required by industry regulations.

The system enables compliance with MiFID regulations, which require financial services firms in the EU and the European Economic Area to maintain all records relating to any securities transaction in a non-rewritable and non-erasable format for five years.

Finally HP's Retail Marketing Automation system is designed to help automate labour-intensive processes for large retail outlets.

The focus is on the easy and cost-effective production of in-store signage, flyers, shelf labels, coupons and catalogues while reducing the cost for external ad agencies and execution failures.

"The enterprise printing industry is evolving beyond paper," said Jan Riecher, vice president of commercial enterprise at HP's Imaging and Printing Group in EMEA.

"By helping companies to optimise and manage their infrastructures and workflows, we are enabling them to be more competitive through greater productivity."

HP told vnunet.com that it sees a tremendous growth opportunity in enterprise printing which is " more customer driven and helps to solve particular business problems".