Heidelberg's New Solution for Packaging Printers - the Signapack for Digital Complete Forms

Packaging printers now have an easier job of bringing even the most difficult individual repeats quickly and efficiently onto the printing form and of then having these printed and cut.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) will be using drupa 2000 to present its new Signapack software sulution - a version of the tried-and-tested Signastation impositioning software which has been specifically developed for packaging printing.

Signapack comes equipped with a whole series of excellent production tools which are perfectly tailored to the needs of the industry and for producing fully digital complete packaging or label forms for output to film or plate. What is more, Signapack also ensures that information is prepared in PPF (Print Production Format) for presses and cutters, thereby cutting the work preparation required in these stages quite dramatically.

From designed individual repeats to optimum complete forms Packaging printers who opt for the Prinergy workflow management system will find that the new Prinergy Powerpack package gives them the optimum solution to their needs (refer also to separate press release). Prinergy Powerpack converts the designed individual repeats for packaging or label applications into PDF, performs trapping and Color Management and, if necessary, also optimizes the special colors. The result is saved in the Prinergy Powerpack production database.

Signapack uses this database to generate complete digital forms. The operator is able to control the fully automatic functions under full visual control and has the option of switching to manual assembly at any time. These functions include Step & Repeat which arranges the individual repeats quickly and effectively for label printing, mixing of different individual repeats on a single sheet, and the use of nesting to ensure better utilization of material.

Other useful packaging production tools integrated into the Signapack software include:

• Import of punch form CAD data.
• Punch contours can be output as a separate color layer for proofing and film output.
• The clipping paths are defined on the sheet under visual control and a high-resolution preview is supported by way of a final check.
• The overview is facilitated by automatic numbering of repeats and use of multiple layers for e.g. managing different language versions.

Jobs are archived and finished data output to the filmsetter or plate recorder in an interactive dialog with Prinergy Powerpack.

Using job information when printing and cutting with PPF integration
The Signapack software provides the operator with a means of defining and positioning color pick-up fields on the complete sheet, but also allows him to position color control elements. The cutting information for label production is also saved. This means that Signapack has all the information it needs to make very substantial savings in time and materials in the following stages of the workflow.
This information is systematically bundled in the CIP3-Print Production Format (PPF) so that it can also be used for printing and finishing across different systems. The PPF data is evaluated by the SystemPrepress Interface from Heidelberg which calculates the ink zone presettings, interprets the position of the autoregister and color control marks and supplies this information to the printing press. The PPF files are transferred equally easily to the cutter in the case of label printing. Waste, setup times and error rates can be minimized thanks to PPF, while production speeds and quality are boosted

For further information:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Thomas Fichtl
Tel.: +49 (0)6221 92 47 47
E-mail: thomas.fichtl@heidelberg.com

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Gabriele Butzke
Tel.: +49 (0)431 386 13 28
E-mail: gabriele.butzke@heidelberg.com