Prinect Digital Print Manager from Heidelberg Integrates Offset and Digital Printing in One Workflow

JDF-based link between Prinect workflow and Xerox and HP Indigo digital printing systems

At Ipex 2006, which takes place from April 4-11 in Birmingham, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) will be releasing the Prinect Digital Print Manager 1.0 module for sale, which was showcased as a technology demo at Print 05 in Chicago.

Thanks to this Heidelberg innovation, Prinect users with both offset presses and digital print systems can take advantage of the flexibility offered by the fully integrated Prinect workflow for both printing processes.

In order to link up as many digital print systems as possible from leading manufacturers such as Xerox, HP Indigo and, in the next stage, Kodak NexPress, the Prinect Digital Print Manager communicates with the JDF- and JMF-compatible workflow components from these manufacturers. Since the digital print configuration used in each particular case makes its specific capabilities and characteristics available to the Digital Print Manager, output-specific parameters for documents can be set as early as the prepress stage. These include the print run, the choice of printing stock, single or double-sided printing, the type of delivery, and, if existing, inline finishing parameters. Similarly, production data from the digital print systems is returned to the Prinect workflow thanks to the Prinect Digital Print Manager. Offset and digital print processes and can thus be monitored in the Prinect workflow and any subsequent operations in the postpress stage can be controlled in good time. Prinect users can thus integrate a new digital press into their workflow just as easily as they can a plate recorder or a proofer.

A standardized workflow offers a whole range of benefits:
The removal of redundant workflows facilitates offset and digital print control and management. The workflow standardization and automation made possible by Prinect also result in greater reliability in production, shorter throughput times, and higher margins for digital print, too. This safeguards investments in the workflow and presses over the long term. In the standardized Prinect workflow, the production manager can switch jobs to the other printing process at the last minute if required, or split them between both printing processes, a solution that is particularly rewarding for short runs, preliminary runs and print-on-demand jobs.

"With JDF-based integration of digital printing systems into the Prinect workflow, Heidelberg is closing a major gap on the road to print shops achieving end-to-end integration. Prinect gives users the flexibility to switch between print processes during production, therefore allowing them to select the optimal solution for their production needs. In this way, print shop processes can be standardized and costs cut," says Dr. Peter Leu, Vice President Product Management Prinect, explaining the benefits of the new Prinect Digital Print Manager.

The Prinect Digital Print Manager will be available in the 1.0 version from the middle of this year onwards. This version will feature the following integration capabilities:

• Compatible with Xerox digital press/frontend combinations via Xerox FreeFlow Print Manager Version 4.0 or later
• Compatible with HP Indigo digital presses via HP Production Flow Version 1.03 or later; directly compatible to HP Indigo press 5000

In a follow up version, Heidelberg plans to extend the integration capability of the Prinect Digital Print Manager to all Kodak NexPress digital print presses that can be controlled via the Kodak NexStation.

Image:
Integration of digital printing machines with Prinect Digital Print Manager.

For further information for journalists:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Communications
Matthias Hartung
Tel.: +49 (0)6221 92 50 77
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 50 46
E-mail: matthias.hartung@heidelberg.com