38 ■ October 4, 2010 • GRAPH EXPO Automation For Profi ts
Every aspect of print production, from premedia right on through to the bindery, benefits from latest enhancements
By Heidi Tolliver-Nigro
the bottom line. No matter your current level of automation, there is always more efficiency to squeeze out, wheth- er its enhancing individual processes or revamping an entire workflow. For new press technology, one of the ‘must stops’ on the show floor is the Presstek booth (2600), where the Presstek 75DI is making its North American debut. The press features what Presstek calls “extreme automa- tion,” or 6-minute job-to-job turnover, including platemaking. The 75DI incorporates new on-press imaging to speed makeready. The concept utilizes single-lens imaging in which all diodes image through a single lens. Press efficiency is further enhanced by a simultaneous imaging and cleaning of plates that optimizes makeready time between jobs.
W More debuts Also making its North American
debut is HP Indigo’s top-of-the-line 7500 Digital Press, which includes Intelligent Automation, a major factor in enabling the press to boost produc- tivity up to 10%. A new Vision System entirely automates manual calibrations and enables diagnostic troubleshooting wizards. The press also features a new Universal Finishing Interface for auto- mated end-to-end workflow. HP (Booths 1200, 5416, 5417, 5418) is also demonstrating a future feature for the press, real-time early-defect- detection technology that identifies and notifies the operator of print defects. On the traditional offset side, man- roland (Booth 858) is showcasing auto- print smart, which uses a one-touch intelligent control system to increase production efficiency through automat- ed and predefined worksteps. Not only does the intelligent interplay of differ- ent technologies reduce makeready, but autoprint’s self-learning controls significantly speed job changeover up to the first press OK.
Depending on the job structure, man- roland claims productivity increases up to 15% at the same printing speed, with waste sheets reduced by around 30%. autoprint smart also safeguards print quality over the production run by bet- ter planning job sequences and exact reproduction of repeat jobs. Showgoers can learn about the KBA Rapida 106, the “makeready cham-
ant to make more mon- ey? It’s all about auto- mation that increases efficiencies and boosts
pion,” at KBA’s lounge (Booth 1255). The press’ wide array of automation includes the KBA DriveTronic dedi- cated drives and simultaneous plate mounting system and the DriveTronic feeder with presetting.
Retrofits galore If you cannot afford new production equipment, automation is still well within reach. Many vendors are help- ing printers apply new technology to older equipment and software systems, including shop floor controls, MIS sys- tems, and other controls. A great example is Muller Martini (Booth 637), whose ASIR3 (Automatic Signature Image Recognition Version 3) can now be integrated onto all of its legacy equipment. This increases the ability of small- and mid-sized printers, even with finishing equipment more than a decade old, to compete against larger players.
Muller Martini has also made much of its automated finishing equipment scalable. The full Sigma line offers everything from signature folding down to trimming, and new, expanded scal- ability allows printers to purchase indi- vidual pieces then add to the line as their business grows. Automation is a key component of Muller Martini’s Orbit trimmer. “A typical set-up on a trimmer might be 40 minutes,” says Anthony Quaranta of the Q Group, a sales consulting firm representing Muller Martini. “If you are really good, 25 minutes. The Orbit is three minutes.” Standard Finishing’s (Booths 1244, 1644) has named its exhibit “Intelligent Automation” to emphasize its commit- ment to using advanced automation and touchscreen control for short-run finish- ing. Making its debut at this year’s show is the Standard Horizon CABS 6000 perfect binding system. The system, which includes the MG-600 gatherer, SB-17 17-clamp perfect binder, and HT-110 three-knife trimmer, delivers end-to-end automated setup in ten min- utes or less, and the ability to memorize 200 jobs for instant recall. For automation on smaller format digital equipment, check out Standard Hunkeler’s
diverse range of roll-fed
solutions, including unwinders, rewind- ers, cutters and double-cutters for the continuous-feed digital print market. Designed to work with high-speed dig- ital printers at speeds up to 720 fpm, a variety of Hunkeler machines are at the booths of industry-leading printer ven- dors such as HP, InfoPrint Solutions (Booth 2017), Kodak (Booth 1227),
Based on the HP Indigo 7000 platform, the top of the line HP Indigo 7500 introduces Intelligent Automation, a major factor in increasing press productivity by up to 10%.
Official Show Daily • Cygnus Graphics Media
The Standard Horizon CABS 6000 perfect binding system is premiering at the show, bringing new levels of automation to production bookbinding.
Muller Martini’s Automatic Signature Image Recognition technology inspects each signature, ensuring proper sequencing with exceptional accuracy.
Océ (Booth 1217), Screen (1637), and Xerox (Booths 400, 600).
Beyond the plant True automation also encompasses end-to-end workflow with JDF and “the document factory,” including workflow automation through web-to-print. Expect to see a lot of enhancements to campaign management on the floor, as well. For example, EFI (Booth 2000) is displaying its MicroPress, a high-per- formance document production system that streamlines prepress work, auto- mates manual processes, and optimiz- es engine speed to efficiently produce color and black-and-white documents. MicroPress supports the latest industry standard file formats, with the power to natively process PostScript, PDF and XPS, resulting in faster, more accurate output. For printers seeking to streamline
their business processes, Prism (Booth 4018) is promoting its Prism WIN 2010 management information system, which gives printers flexibility, con- figurability, and integrated modules to manage the diverse requirements of print, manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution.
Automating prepress production is possible with Dalim Software’s (Booth 227) ES 2, which combines tasks such as color accurate softproofing with the business logic of project planning, with
milestones and sophisticated approval processes. With access rights, all users are involved at the appropriate stages of the production cycle, including review and approval of corrections and revi- sions. The process is fully automated, yet customizable for specific needs. interlinkONE (Booth 969)has made numerous advancements to its iLink Version 8, which allows printers to cre- ate customizable web portals to order static literature items, multi-channel marketing campaigns, and create auto- mated follow-ups for inquiries to lead generation or survey forms. Automation is extending beyond
workflow, and can include integration with new mobile-friendly products. For example, EFI (Booth 2000) is among those that have launched a Mobile Client for Apple mobile devic- es. EFI Mobile Client lets users view and control EFI Pace and Monarch workflow software as well as control and monitor all EFI-XF-driven printers and software for production and proof- ing via the iPhone, iPad or iPod. With access to EFI Fiery XF and Color- proof XF RIPs users can view, preview, proof, print and delete jobs from their mobile devices. As you explore the show, keep in mind that “automation” has many fac- es, and can include the latest innova- tions, simple retrofits, while impacting every phase of print production.
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