News

Workflow and management information systems (MIS) are becoming more and more important as the industry evolves and firms look to improve and augment the services they offer while seeking to provide better quality and shorter turnaround times.

A couple of Drupas ago, all talk about workflow revolved around the pre-press process and specifically getting PDF and PostScript files onto plate. However, in the intervening years, the remit of workflow expanded as the need arose to drive digital presses and wide-format inkjets and the demand for automation extended from the pre-media process to encompass printing and finishing. The automation of the entire production process is being enabled by the adoption of JDF, which first saw light of day as a concept in 2000 and in the first products in 2004. This time around, it’s poised to go mainstream.

JDF confusion
“Last Drupa was about introducing JDF and we all did a horrible job and confused the market,” says Dalim Software head of international marketing Bertin Sogenfry. “This time around, it is about showing how simple it is to use and that it’s not just for geeks, and it makes the workflow more efficient.”

He’s backed up by MIS supplier Tharstern, whose executive director Abdul Kassas says: “For us, the big deal will be JDF. At the last Drupa, it was just speculation; at this year’s show it’s a reality.”

Finishing has been JDF’s final frontier, and at this year’s show, there are tools to bring JDF to the bindery. For Heidelberg, the big news is its Prinect Postpress Manager.

“It brings all the post-press kit into the fold – no pun intended,” says Heidelberg UK PCM and Prinect marketing manager Guy Elliott.

While much of the focus on JDF has been on automation, Elliott says at least as important is getting information back on machine status for production management and accurate costing. With post-press joining the JDF world, Elliott says it also, at last, opens up production planning to the electronic age, finally consigning T-cards to history.

MIS on the move
Automation of production is only part of the workflow and MIS puzzle. Following on from Vision in Print’s MIS Best Practice Guide, what are variously known as executive information system (EIS) and business intelligence (BI) functions are being added to the MIS.

“The aim is to get people to focus on the fundamentals and to use key performance indicators (KPIs) to get their businesses right,” says Optimus director of research and development Nigel Tyler.

While MIS may be moving on, watch out at Drupa for other new suppliers and new approaches as web-to-print engines add more sophisticated pricing and costing engines and third-party suppliers enter the fray too. The other big news is Kodak’s launch of its EMS product in Europe, which is based on an existing enterprise resource planning (ERP) tool.

“Printers are increasingly doing multiple print processes and non-print services and products, therefore, it’s easier to verticalise an ERP than to open up a print MIS,” says Kodak GCG vice president marketing and channels, enterprise solutions, Jon Bracken.

Integrating digital
While workflow for CTP may be a mature market, the need to integrate digital output is shaking things up. At this year’s show, expect a far closer integration between CTP and digital workflow, with JDF at the core in allowing the control of digital presses from conventional workflows (before, the link tended to be as basic as a colour-managed PDF). As a result, there is a battle for overall pre-press workflow dominance.

“We are showing as a CTP workflow vendor that we are better placed to produce an overall workflow than the print-on-demand suppliers, especially in the area of colour,” says Screen Europe workflow product manager Sjaak Veeken. “I believe the CTP workflows will take over that complete part.”

Arguing the case for the other side is Kodak’s Bracken. “Static print is a special case of variable data where there’s only one variant.” Kodak is putting its money where its mouth is with a new version of Prinergy that not only integrates CTP and digital print but supports variable data too.

Colour under control
While they may argue about which approach to take to drive digital presses and platesetters, all the vendors agree that colour will be centre stage at this year’s show and many will launch dedicated products that knit together the control of colour at every stage of production and across different media and print processes.

Fujifilm Europe business strategy manager John Davies says: “Colour management had got to the stage where it worked and no-one spoke about it but the need to start matching offset, inkjet and xerographic print has opened the box again. Using conventional colour management you get as good a result as you can for each type of print, whereas this approach matches the colour of a campaign across multiple media.”

Cross-media will be another force to reckon with at Drupa. Kodak’s Bracken reckons that it represents a massive opportunity for printers to re-invent themselves as marketing services providers, and those that have got their heads around workflow automation in print production are well placed to take their skills upstream to automate the marketing process.

“We’ve driven workflow to zero touch in the print shop with all the automation in production,” he says “Now if you want to be sticky as a service provider, having done it first with production now take it to brand asset management and campaign management.”

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MIS & WORKFLOW: MIS
Dims! Organizing Print
www.dims.net
Stand: 9/A25
Dutch software developer Dims! Has gone back to the drawing board to develop a brand new MIS Dims.net! Built around ease of use, it features flow charts, colour coding and coloured status flags to make it simple to operate, along with interfaces that can be configured to be as simple or as detailed as individual users need.

EFI
www.efi.com
Stand: 4/C01
High-volume print production planning package Prograph gets an update with “revolutionary” new JDF capabilities. Also on show will be the firm’s PrintSmith and Hagen MIS and shopfloor data collection tools Auto Count DMI and AutoCount Lite.

Hiflex
www.hiflex.com
Stand: 9/D24
The German MIS supplier will be showing its new EIS (Executive Information System), a “cockpit” that allows the user to view company information at a glance.

Kodak
www.graphics.kodak.com
Stand: 5/D01
Kodak’s EMS will get its European debut at Drupa. It’s an enterprise resource planning (ERP) package tailored for print rather than a dedicated print MIS, which the firm claims makes it more flexible for handling multiple print processes and non-print services. After a somewhat drawn out gestation, EMS is now on sale in the US and Kodak is looking for suitable European early adopters, most likely from the UK, at the show.

Optimus
www.optimus2020.com
Stand: 6/D60
Improved efficiency and access to relevant information are at the heart of Optimus’s push at Drupa. Its QS product is aimed at automating and speeding up processes and taking out administration costs. In terms of information, the firm’s focus is on reporting KPIs (see star product). Basic KPIs are built into its 2020 Vision product, while firms that want more detailed information that they can drill down into can opt for its Analysis business intelligence tool.

Press-sense
www.press-sense.com
Stand: 9/E62
The firm claims that Omnium is a next-generation product that is particularly suitable for managing high volumes of short-run and personalised work, including handling multiple sites.

Prism
www.prism-world.com
Stand: 7a/C12
Enhanced scheduling and an improved interface are the highlights of the firm’s new version of its Prism-Win MIS package, while shopfloor data capture package QTMS iQ is now modular and features a pallet tracking module.

Shuttleworth
www.shuttleworth-uk.co.uk
Stand: 5/B25
Leading the firm’s developments is a new browser-based shopfloor data collection module, Data Flow. Other developments include a warehouse management system, a product management facility for packaging printers and enhancements to its customer relationship management (CRM) module. Shuttleworth also promises some advanced business intelligence tools.

Tharstern
www.tharstern.com
Stand: 5/A43
Visitors to the show will get a preview of version 4 of Tharstern’s MIS, which features KPIs and dashboards in the basic system with the option of an Executive Intelligence Pack for those that need more detail. Other new modules include one for print management and new features to support multi-web operations.

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MIS & WORKFLOW: WEB-TO-PRINT
EFI
www.efi.com
Stand: 5/C01
Last year’s major upgrade, Digital StoreFront 3.0, will be on display. EFI is promoting the system’s support for 14 languages and the option of it or the printer hosting the software.

Hiflex
www.hiflex.com
Stand: 9/D24
The firm will be showing two web-to-print packages, eBusiness, for working with existing clients and Webshop for open access by any customer looking for print services on the internet.

Kodak
www.graphics.kodak.com
Stand: 5/D01
Version 5.1 of the Kodak’s Insite Storefront System adds support for non-print products and enhanced inventory and fulfilment functions. The company is also promoting the integration of its Insite product range to enable personalised print and cross-media campaign production, including PURLs and customised landing pages to be managed through the web-to-print portal

Press-sense
www.press-sense.com
Stand: 9/E62
Version 5 of Press-sense’s hugely popular iWay package will be debuted at Drupa. It includes enhanced support for non-print products and services, a new user interface and support for working with customers that don’t want to work online. The Israeli developer also promises news on another new partner following on from its recent agreement with DI press firm Presstek.

Tharstern
www.tharstern.com
Stand: 5/A43
E4Print, Tharstern’s e-commerce module has undergone a significant revision with a new user interface and enhanced functionality using JDF.

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MIS & WORKFLOW: WORKFLOW
Agfa
www.agfa.com
Stand: 8a/B63
Apogee has had a major overhaul for Drupa with Apogee Suite now comprising four modules: Publish, Portal, Prepress and Color. Publish is a new module aimed at publishers and brand owners. Portal was previously Delano and includes WebApproval, StreamProof and Project Manager tools. Prepress is what was formerly known at Apogee-X, and includes enhanced JDF links to digital presses and a new tool Platemaker for maximising plate throughput. Color includes the new Ink Save separation optimisation tool, SherpaProof, ColorTune colour management package, and Sublima screening.

Canon
www.canon-europe.com
Stand: 8a/B46
Building on the foundations of its uniFlow workflow for the corporate printroom market, Canon is launching Helix Production Workflow, which is aimed at commercial print and print-for-pay applications. Helix offers job ticketing and web submission, support for multiple printers, including job splitting and load balancing and integrates with a range of personalisation packages. It is also JDF compatible for integration with other production kit and MIS. Canon has also formed a strategic partnership with Agfa, with Apogee Suite driving Canon’s Imagepress range.

Dalim
www.dalim.com
Stand: 9/C44
Connectivity is the name of the game for Dalim this Drupa. Its JDF Connectivity package will be shown linking third-party workflow tools that aren’t themselves JDF enabled into a JDF workflow with Dalim’s Twist at the centre of it. This meta-data based approach simplifies workflow set up removing the need for multiple queues and hot folders. A new element to the publication production automation tool Mistral is the Publishers Production Flatplan, which shows PDFs of completed pages. In addition to this is the Virtual Library, a 3D proof option for Mistral and Printempo, which shows in real time the status of each page – once a publication is complete, it can be used as a digital replacement of voucher copies.

EFI
www.efi.com
Stand: 5/C01
A new version of EFI’s stalwart digital colour print server Fiery will be on show. New features include the incorporation of Adobe’s PDF Print Engine (APPE) for native handling of the latest PDF files and native processing for the XPS page description language that Microsoft introduced with its Vista operating system. EFI promises consistent colour handling across PDF and XPS documents. Also on show will be the Fiery Central workflow controller for linking multiple devices and the tight integration between Fiery and the firm’s other tools, including its MIS range, web-to-print package PrinterSite and wide-format and proofing RIPs Fiery XF and ColorProof XF.

EskoArtwork
www.esko.com
Stand: 8b/A23
Cross-compatibility between former Artwork Systems and Esko workflows will be unveiled at Drupa as the first stage of a four-part plan to end up with a single multi-function workflow. Artwork’s Odystar workflow will form the basis of a pro workflow line for publishers, agencies and medium- sized printers, while Esko BackStage forms the heart of an enterprise workflow. Following the acquisition of Gradual Software and its incorporation into the firm’s Enfocus division, it will be promoting the Switch workflow integration tool at the show. The firm will also be part of a demonstration of an end-to-end JDF packaging workflow with MIS firm Dr Lauterbach & Partner, MAN Roland and Bobst.

Fujifilm
www.fujifilm.co.uk
Stand: 8b/A25
Version 2.0 of Fuji’s XMF workflow will be centre stage driving the firm’s platesetters and wide-format digital presses and, for the first time, Xerox digital colour presses to demonstrate the flexibility of the system’s JDF and PDF-based approach to assigning imposition and colour management for multiple outputs. The colour control element is achieved using the new XMF C-Fit module. The firm is also highlighting XMF Remote, the new web-based module for job submission and approval, including the neat 3D mock-up function. Taskero Universe is a quality and colour control package that monitors colour quality of all the processes from monitor through proofing to plate and press. Not only does it ensure accurate and consistent colour, the monitoring of servers and hardware such as platesetters and processors ensures maximum uptime by giving an early warning of potential problems allowing for preventative maintenance rather than emergency service call-outs.

Global Graphics
www.globalgraphics.com
Stand: 7/7.0D
Building on its long time native processing of PDF files, the Harlequin Plus server RIP will be shown natively processing XPS files, the new document format at the heart of Vista, the latest version of Microsoft Windows. It will also handle PDF 1.7, JDF 1.3 and PDF X-4. Global Graphics will also be showing Electronic Document Library (EDL), a technology rapidly deploying different document formats in the workflow. The firm is also sponsoring the PDF and XML Production Parc adjacent to Hall 7.

Heidelberg
www.heidelberg.com
Hall: 1 & 2
Prinect scheduler and Postpress Manager (see star product) are the key workflow launches for Heidelberg. Prinect Scheduler, an option for the firm’s Pressroom Manager takes advantage of JDF’s march through production to finally enable digital planning and the ability to show real time job status based on live machine feedback. With Postpress manager the firm now has all the components of its Prinect suite in place for controlling the business and production processes of a printer, from MIS, through pre-press, print and post-press. Also new at Drupa is the addition of a packaging pre-press module, which opens Signastation to a wider range of packaging file formats and adds late-stage editing along with links from Signastation to Postpress Manager to control Heidelberg’s range of packaging post-press kit.

HP
www.hp.com
Stand: 8a/B26
A new overarching workflow SmartStream will be launched. Initially driving the HP Indigo range of digital colour presses, in time, HP will expand the SmartStream platform to drive its entire range of print products, including Designjet wide-format printers, HP Scitex grand-format machines and the new HP Inkjet Web Press. The SmartStream portfolio includes variable data management, imposition and image management and is suitable for commercial print, direct mail, publications printing, photo products, labels and packaging. Much of the SmartStream components are from third parties. HP’s workflow partners include Agfa, Creo PODS, DirectSmile, EskoArtwork, Heidelberg, MindFire, Pageflex, Press-sense and Printable.

Kodak
www.graphics.kodak.com
Stand: 5/D01
Workflow really is centre stage for Kodak at this Drupa. Its core pre-media workflow Prinergy hits version 5 and becomes a single workflow for digital print and CTP with support for personalisation (see star product, p30). Online submission and approval is offered by Insite Creative Workflow version 4.0. The need to manage colour across the entire workflow is handled by Colorflow, a new package that offers intelligent colour management from creation to output whether that’s flexo, offset or digital and is clever enough to ensure changes made in one process are tracked and reflected throughout for consistency. It includes ink optimisation and support for printing to standard conditions such as ISO 12647 and Fogra 39. Recent acquisition Design2Launch, which offers brand asset management and image workflow for brand owners and agencies, will be on display, demonstrating the way workflow is evolving from production to creation and becoming more integrated with business processes.

Screen
www.screeneurope.com
Stand: 8b/A61
Tighter integration with print on demand, working with customers online for job submission and approval and automatic enhancement of the colour of supplied files are the new features in Screen’s Trueflownet workflow Rite Suite. The firm describes the colour enhancement module, PDF Polisher In, as an extension of pre-flighting. It will also be showing its personalisation software package VaryStudio, which drives the Truepress Jet 520.

Xerox
www.xerox.com
Stand: 8b/A78
FreeFlow, Xerox’s over-arching workflow brand will be enhanced in time for Drupa with a number of new modules. Automatic picture enhancement for hands off colour correction and quality optimisation for both documents and photos is offered with FreeFlow PrintServer with JPEG Plug-in. Web Services Order Center integrates online and offline quotes, orders, jobs and invoices to manage customer service while VIPP Pro Publisher is a personalisation tool for Adobe InDesign. Xerox’s demonstration of digital and offset integration features a link to Heidelberg’s Prinect workflow and one of its presses on the Xerox stand.