How far along is the print job?
Integration—process integration—is the old and new magic formula of the print media industry.
automatically or at least automatically. The promise
Workflow systems such as those presented by Heidelberg at Ipex. We have
with Jörg Bauer, Head of Product Management Prinect at Heidelberg, about
the new possibilities.
WW: A significantly enhanced version of the Prinect system will be presented at Ipex. What's new?
Jörg Bauer: Primarily that
Prinect Integration System and the Prinect Pressroom Manager. With
these products, all processes in a print shop can be
completely based on the Job Definition Format (JDF).
Starting with the incoming order, the PDF upload and automatic
Checking, ripping and impositioning in the prepress stage via the transfer of
job and ink zone information to the printing press up to the
Presetting on folding, cutting or folder-gluer machines
processes can be activated and status messages made visible at all times.
be made.
WW: Do agencies or print buyers also benefit from such systems?
Jörg Bauer: Yes, because still
There has never been more transparency about the processing of a
Even if in practice it is primarily the customer advisor who is responsible for
status information, for example, in order to provide the customer with quick
to provide an overview of the order, it would be conceivable that
agencies and print buyers can also get an online overview of a
order. The possibilities depend on this, among other things,
which information the print shop releases.
WW: Where is the greatest automation potential currently to be expected from process integration?
Jörg Bauer: The biggest
Potential lies not least in the cost structure of the
faster ink presetting on the printing presses. Also in the
Prepress allows all the processes required to produce a printing form
automate the necessary processes. And not to forget the
subsequent evaluation of print jobs, which enables print shops to
significantly facilitated, on the basis of the
their offerings and their business management data
optimize production steps.
WW: Will old machines such as letterpresses be left out?
Jörg Bauer: In addition to the
fully automatic and semi-automatic integration, individual
processes on old letterpress machines, for example, via a terminal
be recorded. A simple but networked PC can be used for this purpose.
and thus parameters such as time expenditure, rejects or the time of
The order completion date can be entered manually.
WW: In addition to JDF, there is also the predecessor format PPF. What is the significance of this print production format?
Jörg Bauer: We see it
as our obligation to support existing formats as well. In
a consistent JDF scenario, a link to a JDF file links to a
corresponding PPF file with the workflow. Although we at Ipex
a completely JDF-based solution, machines can be
also in the future via the existing Prepress Interface and Data
Control with both MIS, i.e. order preparation systems, and
pre-stage systems.
Interview: Jürgen Franck
