Technology | What to Watch
“With ever rising costs, print service providers are increasingly diving more and more into the intricate details of their project production to understand the full costs involved. They are keener now than ever to get an accurate picture of the project costs, but also to use this information to educate and inform estimating and quoting for future jobs.
“The dedicated GUI on the Jetrix printers has long been able to give this insight, however the importance of having access to this level of information has risen. From viewing the ink usage, time taken on any particular day on any specific job, it is easy to calculate usage costs. Equally, the analysis enables them to look at patterns of work volume, seasonality or active time to predict future production peaks and troughs.”
On the topic of data collection/analysis and remote machine diagnostics software Mimaki highlights Pict - announced with the launch of the UCJV330-160 late last year - a cloud technology for monitoring all the Mimaki printers in your fleet. Pict (Printer Information Cloud Technology) boasts several key features such as remote monitoring, grouped management, data precision, ink efficiency and maintenance. What’s more, it’s easy to use according to Mimaki - create an account, sign in, download the ‘Pict Up’ application and install it on a Windows 10 or 11 PC that is running RasterLink7, or on a separate PC within the same network. Connect your printers via LAN and register them in the ‘Pict Up’ application, where they will automatically appear in the cloud service. Printing from RasterLink7, however, can be done via LAN or USB. Pict is also compatible with iOS and Android. “In the evolving landscape of wide-format inkjet technology, the ability to monitor and analyse real-time, historical, and trend data from a production site is becoming increasingly critical,” agrees PrintFactory, pointing out that its “cloud certification ensures consistent reporting of jobs and consumables to the cloud, and enables real-time access to job info and certification reports for tracking quality control conformance from any web browser.” As we know, in print production each device and brand/manufacturer
may offer individual dashboards, but they can fail to provide a holistic view. PrintFactory’s Dashboard addresses this gap by offering a consolidated view of the entire production environment, including all printers, cutters, Rips, and nests, regardless of brand or location. It
provides real-time snapshot of your production status, and with drill- down capabilities, users can identify and focus on areas requiring improvement. “We don’t just look in the rearview mirror - we also highlight what still needs to be done, helping you stay ahead and continuously improve,” says the company. PrintFactory integrates AI and machine learning to optimise device calibration, image enhancement, and colour management. Its modular system, under the ‘Connect’ SaaS plan, allows for setting up automated workflows that adapt to your specific needs without requiring extensive external consultation. The hybrid approach adopted by PrintFactory ensures that some operations take place in the cloud, while critical tasks can be managed locally. This setup allows remote access and control, enabling you to initiate jobs from anywhere and share resources efficiently without having to share files using third party applications or via the internet. PrintFactory also offers an encrypted job flow to securely process sensitive data alongside standard jobs without altering the workflow. Jobs are encrypted with a unique key tied to the specific printer or cutter, ensuring they can’t be opened, viewed, or modified except on the designated device. Rob Goleniowski, Roland DG’s head of sales UK/Ireland, highlights its
new Printer Monitoring Pro, now available with the company’s Connect Premium and Professional plans. “Imagine being able to start your work day with your printer already prepped and ready to go. With Roland DG’s new remote control system, this is now a reality. From the convenience of a mobile phone or PC, users can control essential printer functions such as powering the printer and heater on or off, circulating white ink, performing routine cleanings, and even initiating test prints [note that heater on/off and white ink circulation are only available on models equipped with these specific functions].
“Roland DG has also enhanced the user experience by allowing customisation of the printer’s operational status display. Users can now easily monitor critical aspects like operating rate, printing progress, and remaining ink levels. The interface is fully customisable, with frequently used icons placed in user-friendly locations, creating a workspace tailored to individual preferences and boosting overall comfort and efficiency.”
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