Prinect Signa Station Version 1.5 Supports Barcodes and Improves Production Reliability in Postpress
08/23/2005
Heidelberg and WST Systemtechnik offer joint solution
One particular highlight of the newly developed Prinect Signa Station Version 1.5 is its capacity to dynamically generate barcodes which can be used to prevent errors when collating and folding sheets in postpress. The Prinect Signa Station provides these barcodes with the necessary data. Special barcode readers from WST Systemtechnik GmbH (WST) record and check the codes in postpress.
"This solution developed jointly by Heidelberg and WST will enable printshops to significantly increase their postpress efficiency. At the same time they could improve customer loyalty since it will prevent errors which the customer often only discovers when using the finished product," explains Dr. Peter Leu, Vice President Prinect Product Management at Heidelberg when asked about the advantages of barcode generation within the Prinect Signa Station.
Barcodes boost transparency and improve production reliability
The use of barcodes is continually growing as requirements on print product quality become ever tougher. Commercial printers too are applying barcodes to the print sheets fed into their saddlestitchers, folders or collating machines in order to ensure unique sheet assignment and to identify missing sheets at an early stage. Special barcode readers from WST record and check each sheet in real time in postpress. Prinect Signa Station independently generates the necessary barcodes directly in the system, deriving them dynamically from the user specifications. If one of the specifications changes for a sheet, the information in the barcode changes automatically.
The Prinect Signa Station defines the barcodes from the data for the print job with variables such as the job number, customer number and folding sheet number. The user can enter the information manually into the Prinect Signa Station or adopt it via JDF from an MIS system using the Prinect Printready System.
Just like any other print control mark, the barcode can be positioned at any point on the print sheet or folding sheet. Should the user position it on the plate template, errors in further production can be all but excluded. In this case, there is no need for the barcode to be positioned manually. Since it adjusts itself dynamically based on the job information already stored in the Prinect Signa Station, the operator has no need to concern himself with these aspects.
Link to the WST system
WST's OBC (Opto Barcode Control) barcode system identifies a machine-readable mark which is integrated into the waste part of the print product. This marking system is not specific to WST, rather the industry standard barcode (Code 2/5 Inter-leaved) is used which makes implementation and standardization in prepress much easier. The barcode readers developed by WST record the printed marks which are at least two millimeters in height.
Code reconstruction for different sheet orientations
The barcode system from WST not only monitors the entire area in which the code is theoretically located, but is able for the first time to reliably reconstruct the code - which sometimes travels through in different orientations - from its fragments.
Installation and integration
Only a small number of easy-to-fit parts are required to equip the machines in postpress. Each station of the collating or folding machine is provided with a barcode reading head. WST supplies the special mount. A maximum of 4 reading heads are linked to a station computer which processes and evaluates the data that has been read. These station computers are located inside the machine. A standard industrial PC manages the data and controls communication within the network. There is only one operating button. WST's OBC 4-60 system can be integrated into any postpress machine with between 4 and 60 stations. It also offers the option of recording and statistically evaluating jobs.
Prospective clients for the system should contact their regional Heidelberg sales office. Concerning the barcode readers they could also contact WST Systemtechnik GmbH.
Image:
Heidelberg and WST offer a joint solution for barcode printing to reduce errors in postpress and improve customer satisfaction.
About WST Systemtechnik GmbH
WST Systemtechnik GmbH, headquartered in Espelkamp, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, was founded in 1975. WST develops, manufactures and distributes optical sheet control systems for image and barcode identification and mailing/matching systems for print media companies all over the world. The company has a workforce of 30. Further information can be found on the Internet at www.wst-gmbh.de .
One particular highlight of the newly developed Prinect Signa Station Version 1.5 is its capacity to dynamically generate barcodes which can be used to prevent errors when collating and folding sheets in postpress. The Prinect Signa Station provides these barcodes with the necessary data. Special barcode readers from WST Systemtechnik GmbH (WST) record and check the codes in postpress.
"This solution developed jointly by Heidelberg and WST will enable printshops to significantly increase their postpress efficiency. At the same time they could improve customer loyalty since it will prevent errors which the customer often only discovers when using the finished product," explains Dr. Peter Leu, Vice President Prinect Product Management at Heidelberg when asked about the advantages of barcode generation within the Prinect Signa Station.
Barcodes boost transparency and improve production reliability
The use of barcodes is continually growing as requirements on print product quality become ever tougher. Commercial printers too are applying barcodes to the print sheets fed into their saddlestitchers, folders or collating machines in order to ensure unique sheet assignment and to identify missing sheets at an early stage. Special barcode readers from WST record and check each sheet in real time in postpress. Prinect Signa Station independently generates the necessary barcodes directly in the system, deriving them dynamically from the user specifications. If one of the specifications changes for a sheet, the information in the barcode changes automatically.
The Prinect Signa Station defines the barcodes from the data for the print job with variables such as the job number, customer number and folding sheet number. The user can enter the information manually into the Prinect Signa Station or adopt it via JDF from an MIS system using the Prinect Printready System.
Just like any other print control mark, the barcode can be positioned at any point on the print sheet or folding sheet. Should the user position it on the plate template, errors in further production can be all but excluded. In this case, there is no need for the barcode to be positioned manually. Since it adjusts itself dynamically based on the job information already stored in the Prinect Signa Station, the operator has no need to concern himself with these aspects.
Link to the WST system
WST's OBC (Opto Barcode Control) barcode system identifies a machine-readable mark which is integrated into the waste part of the print product. This marking system is not specific to WST, rather the industry standard barcode (Code 2/5 Inter-leaved) is used which makes implementation and standardization in prepress much easier. The barcode readers developed by WST record the printed marks which are at least two millimeters in height.
Code reconstruction for different sheet orientations
The barcode system from WST not only monitors the entire area in which the code is theoretically located, but is able for the first time to reliably reconstruct the code - which sometimes travels through in different orientations - from its fragments.
Installation and integration
Only a small number of easy-to-fit parts are required to equip the machines in postpress. Each station of the collating or folding machine is provided with a barcode reading head. WST supplies the special mount. A maximum of 4 reading heads are linked to a station computer which processes and evaluates the data that has been read. These station computers are located inside the machine. A standard industrial PC manages the data and controls communication within the network. There is only one operating button. WST's OBC 4-60 system can be integrated into any postpress machine with between 4 and 60 stations. It also offers the option of recording and statistically evaluating jobs.
Prospective clients for the system should contact their regional Heidelberg sales office. Concerning the barcode readers they could also contact WST Systemtechnik GmbH.
Image:
Heidelberg and WST offer a joint solution for barcode printing to reduce errors in postpress and improve customer satisfaction.
About WST Systemtechnik GmbH
WST Systemtechnik GmbH, headquartered in Espelkamp, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, was founded in 1975. WST develops, manufactures and distributes optical sheet control systems for image and barcode identification and mailing/matching systems for print media companies all over the world. The company has a workforce of 30. Further information can be found on the Internet at www.wst-gmbh.de .
For further information:
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
WST Systemtechnik GmbH
Eugen-Gerstenmaier-Str.11
32339 Espelkamp
Tel.: +49 (0)5772 913 0
Mobile: +49 (0)175 46 39 35 9
E-mail: sandvoss@wst-gmbh.de
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
WST Systemtechnik GmbH
Eugen-Gerstenmaier-Str.11
32339 Espelkamp
Tel.: +49 (0)5772 913 0
Mobile: +49 (0)175 46 39 35 9
E-mail: sandvoss@wst-gmbh.de
Website:
www.wst-gmbh.de
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