At GraphExpo from September 11 to 14, 2011 in Chicago, Heidelberger
Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) will be unveiling its first own
web-to-print (W2P) solution in the form of the Prinect Web-to-Print
Manager. This solution is particularly suited for B2B
(business-to-business) applications which help medium-sized and
industrial print shops to interface with their customers in a more
efficient and convenient way. Of course, open shops for B2C
(Business to Consumer) can also be set up.
The Prinect Web-to-Print Manager from Heidelberg has been
developed in cooperation with the US-based W2P software specialist
Pageflex, a division of Bitstream Inc. Pageflex has been a member
of the Heidelberg W2P Partner Program since IPEX 2010.
"The Prinect Web-to-Print Manager expands our Prinect print
shop workflow in what is one of the most important growth segments
for the print media industry and it caters to the growing demands
from our customers to use the internet for
improved customer interaction and retention," said Marcel
Kiessling, member of the Heidelberg Management Board, responsible
for Heidelberg Services. "In Pageflex we have found a partner that
already has a high-quality portfolio of web-to-print solutions with
a proven track record worldwide. By integrating this portfolio into
the Prinect system, our customers will benefit two-fold - from the
W2P expertise of our partner Pageflex on one hand and the
comprehensive automation and process transparency of the Prinect
production workflow on the other."
"We are honored that Heidelberg selected Pageflex to partner
with for Prinect Web-to-Print Manager," comments Pinhas Romik,
Pageflex General Manager. "Pageflex has been providing web-to-print
technologies to digital print shops for more than ten years. While
Heidelberg is the premier provider of solutions and services for
the entire print media industry worldwide, and well situated to
help offset and hybrid print shops evolve into offering
Internet-based ordering. We are excited by this opportunity to
extend our market reach into offset print shops and new global
markets."
The Prinect Web-to-Print Manager offers many functions for
different requirements
Depending on the customer business model, the Prinect
Web-to-Print Manager gives users the opportunity to operate one or
more online shops - also in a mixture of open and closed shops -
with typical functions such as order processing with approval
process, shopping cart, user administration, dispatch, and payment.
The customer portal (frontend) enables data processing and online
document editing. Adobe InDesign or PDF files can also be used as
templates. The solution also offers interfaces to systems of
third-party providers like payment systems, shipment systems or
data list acquisition.
The Prinect Web-to-Print Manager is based on a standard
software program with intuitive operation that requires no
programming know-how. The frontend can be tailored to customer
requirements.
The Prinect Web-to-Print Manager is the perfect solution for
print shops that are interested in using a W2P solution primarily
for their B2B activities. It also supports business models for B2C
(business-to-consumer) applications and franchise networks.
"In launching the Prinect Web-to-Print Manager, Heidelberg is
integrating the entire process - from job acceptance via the online
shop and template generation via web-to-print all the way through
to integrated, highly automated print production," said Christopher
Berti, head of Business Area Prinect and CtP at Heidelberg.
Global market launch to be concluded by drupa 2012
GraphExpo represents the first milestone in the market
launch of the Prinect Web-to-Print Manager in the United States and
Europe. The product will be available worldwide by drupa 2012. One
focal point of the cooperation between Heidelberg and Pageflex is
the integration of the Internet workflow with the Prinect
production workflow. Particular importance is given to enabling
automated production involving management information systems and
the support of mixed forms and digital printing.
The Heidelberg W2P Partner Program launched at IPEX 2010 with
links to the W2P systems of MS-Visucom, Neo7Even, RedTie,
BrandMaker, and EFI will be continued.
Figure:
GraphExpo in Chicago will see Heidelberg launch the Prinect
Web-to-Print Manager, its first own W2P solution for medium-sized
and industrial print shops.
Further information on Pageflex is available at:
www.pageflex.com
Further image material and information about Heidelberger
Druckmaschinen AG can be found in the Press Lounge at:
www.heidelberg.com.
Further information for journalists:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Public Relations
Matthias Hartung
Phone: +49 (0)6221 92 5077
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 99 5077
E-mail:
matthias.hartung@heidelberg.com
Contact for Pageflex:
Bitstream Inc.
Marion Williams-Bennett
mbennett@bitstream.com
Phone: 001-617-520-8311