The Invisible Asset
For UK printer Colourstream having Prinect workflow connectivity
across its entire production and business operations makes sound
commercial sense. Being able to incorporate digital as well as
offset technology is critical.
"It's almost like it doesn't exist, it's just there in the background giving us access to another output device," says John Greene, managing director of Colourstream. This description of the Prinect Digital Print Manager module is testament to the seamless way in which digital as well as offset presses can be incorporated into a Prinect production workflow.
With Prinect Digital Print Manager, Heidelberg can link in machines from Canon, HP Indigo, Kodak Nexpress and Xerox. The level of functionality varies, depending on the integration partner, the partner's system configuration, hardware status and software version.
It can switch between offset and digital printing as easily as between different format offset presses. It is a single central data transfer tool. Plus office staff have an immediate indication of where the job is and how it's doing, enabling them to give fast and accurate responses to customer enquiries.
"We don't want to be looking in different places for different operations but to have a single seamless workflow, even if we choose to use equipment from two different suppliers," says Simon Greene, production director, who is John's son. "We want to know where the job is at any time and to have the data feedback that enables us to make the best business decisions."
The family run business is equipped with a Speedmaster XL 75-10-P with Inpress Control, Heidelberg's most advanced and automated spectrophotometer, and the UK's first SM 52-10-P Anicolor long perfector. But it also has an HP Indigo 5500 digital colour press. Its experience is that the Anicolor has redrawn boundaries with digital and is the right option for runs of 250 plus.
For this reason it was critical the company could have a workflow that would also enable it to link in its digital as well as its offset equipment. One of the key triggers for buying the Digital Print Manager was the ease with which it could handle PDFs and impose work. Before the operator at the digital press had to spend time interpreting files and imposing files. With this functionality and the PDF preflighting in place there has been a 25% increase in machine uptime.
With the workflow connectivity Colourstream argues that the operator no longer requires prepress experience, making it easier to find the staff to run it and providing a potential saving in manning costs.
The company would not backtrack from running with the efficiency that Prinect brings and clearly having a comprehensive package which can include digital technology is seen as a major bonus.
"It's almost like it doesn't exist, it's just there in the background giving us access to another output device," says John Greene, managing director of Colourstream. This description of the Prinect Digital Print Manager module is testament to the seamless way in which digital as well as offset presses can be incorporated into a Prinect production workflow.
With Prinect Digital Print Manager, Heidelberg can link in machines from Canon, HP Indigo, Kodak Nexpress and Xerox. The level of functionality varies, depending on the integration partner, the partner's system configuration, hardware status and software version.
It can switch between offset and digital printing as easily as between different format offset presses. It is a single central data transfer tool. Plus office staff have an immediate indication of where the job is and how it's doing, enabling them to give fast and accurate responses to customer enquiries.
"We don't want to be looking in different places for different operations but to have a single seamless workflow, even if we choose to use equipment from two different suppliers," says Simon Greene, production director, who is John's son. "We want to know where the job is at any time and to have the data feedback that enables us to make the best business decisions."
The family run business is equipped with a Speedmaster XL 75-10-P with Inpress Control, Heidelberg's most advanced and automated spectrophotometer, and the UK's first SM 52-10-P Anicolor long perfector. But it also has an HP Indigo 5500 digital colour press. Its experience is that the Anicolor has redrawn boundaries with digital and is the right option for runs of 250 plus.
For this reason it was critical the company could have a workflow that would also enable it to link in its digital as well as its offset equipment. One of the key triggers for buying the Digital Print Manager was the ease with which it could handle PDFs and impose work. Before the operator at the digital press had to spend time interpreting files and imposing files. With this functionality and the PDF preflighting in place there has been a 25% increase in machine uptime.
With the workflow connectivity Colourstream argues that the operator no longer requires prepress experience, making it easier to find the staff to run it and providing a potential saving in manning costs.
The company would not backtrack from running with the efficiency that Prinect brings and clearly having a comprehensive package which can include digital technology is seen as a major bonus.
What Does Integration Mean to Me?
Das Druckhaus Beineke Dickmans GmbH, Uli Beineke, Germany
Why is Prinect Simple and Profitable ?
Druckerei Landquart VBA, Thomas Ambühl, Switzerland
