Agfa has announced that it will partner with Hybrid Software, a subsidiary of Global Graphics PLC.
The OEM partnership with Hybrid will provide Agfa’s Offset Solutions division with access to the group’s specialized technological know-how and full product portfolio, which focuses on enterprise software for the packaging printing industry.
“We are pleased to be able to extend our existing relationship with Global Graphics thanks to Hybrid Software’s offering,” Andy Grant, global head of software at Agfa. “We see this alliance as a logical next step, and as a way to build upon our existing technologies to develop innovative and customer-oriented solutions for our current as well as future printing industry market segments.”
“We are eager to broaden and intensify our collaboration with Agfa. It will enable us to strengthen and grow the Hybrid Software solutions portfolio and to help optimize the next release of Agfa’s software products.” Guido Van der Schueren, Chairman, Global Graphics PLC.
Gerber Technology announced new releases of their key software solutions, AccuMark 2D and 3D, AccuPlan, AccuNest and YuniquePLM. Gerber has worked closely with their customers on each of these new releases to ensure fashion and apparel companies have the support they need to recover from the global pandemic and transform their business to meet the challenges ahead for 2021. According to McKinsey, The State of Fashion 2021 report, the pandemic has increased the demand for digital transformation, which is why Gerber’s latest releases are focused on better integration and more automation from design to production. With the AccuMark Product Family, February 2021 edition and YuniquePLM version 8.11, fashion companies will be able to easily transition to a demand-led model while improving remote collaboration and overall working conditions.
“We are committed to being the partner the industry needs which is why we work closely with our customers on every release,” said Melissa Rogers, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Software at Gerber. “The fashion industry is facing a challenging time as they recover from the pandemic and look to the challenges that are ahead. We really wanted to make sure that they have the solutions and support they need to keep their doors open and build a foundation for a successful future.”
French print software developer Caldera has added drivers for the new HP Latex 700 and 800 printers to its award-winning RIP program. CalderaRIP Version 14 can now be used to operate all four of the new HP Latex models, enabling HP users to get the most out of the new technology with drivers they already know and trust. The certification of the new drivers will ensure that Caldera continues to offer continuity and serve customers’ needs in the fast-moving digital print market.
The new additions to the HP Latex range offer a combination of consistent, high-quality printing on a wide range of substrates with fast turnaround times. With speeds of up to 334 square feet per hour for the Latex 700 and up to 388 square feet per hour for the Latex 800, these printers are also extraordinarily versatile – applications include textile, banners, signage, vehicle wraps, home décor, packaging, transparent vinyl, window and backlit printing. The Latex 700W and 800W have additionally been optimized for white ink, expanding the range of these printers even further. Used in combination with CalderaRIP Version 14 they deliver excellent productivity gains, and promise a fast return on investment.
Arden Software has completed the acquisition of American software company Cimex Corporation. Arden specializes in CAD and CAM software for the packaging sector, with their “Impact” packaging design software being used all over the world. Cimex develops “CimPACK” software, whichis a leading name in the print, packaging and die-making sectors.
“Much like Arden, Cimex is a global supplier of CAD and CAM software in the packaging sector, so we’re delighted to bring their skills and expertise into the Arden Group. “Our industry remains a highly collaborative and increasingly technical environment. Whether it’s new technologies for die-making and manufacturing, workflow automation, ecommerce, packaging design or collaboration, this acquisition will solidify our position as a technology innovator in the packaging industry, building on the strong relationships that both companies have with their customers.” Jim Silianoff, Arden Software North America, President.
“Many of our customers use both Cimex and Arden Software products, and as companies, we share many of the same traits. We have both worked with and for our customers for many years developing our expertise in our fields, so the joining of our two companies is very complementary.” Andrew Carey, Cimex Corporation, President.
CERM, a global provider of Management Information System (MIS) software for the printing industry, acquires full independence through a Management Buyout (MBO) from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg).
With this autonomous positioning of the CERM software and brand, the CERM management aspires to boost the worldwide expansion of its automation solution for labels and packaging printers.
CERM became part of the Heidelberg group in 2011.
Automation is a high priority for any printer looking to work more profitably now and in the future. “Our software has proven expertise in increasing the service, quality, and efficiency levels of label and packaging printers globally. We are constantly focusing on existing and new customer needs and technological evolution. To explore our full potential and fuel that growth, we needed to regain independence, and welcome additional distribution and support channels.” says Geert Van Damme, CEO of CERM and one of the managers involved in the MBO.
Heidelberg and CERM will both continue to develop and distribute the CERM software as ‘Prinect Business Manager’ for the commercial print segment.
EFI MarketDirect Fulfillment is an inventory management solution designed to simplify and automate the pick and pack order workflows. This new inventory management product is part of the MarketDirect suite of web-to-print, eCommerce and cross media solutions.
Equipped with intuitive and flexible administration tools, the new fulfillment offers creates a seamless order-to-fulfillment workflow that businesses can use to expand service offerings, creating efficiency in warehouse operations and drive even greater customer loyalty.
Regardless of whether you’re offering fully managed print inventory fulfillment services or just managing a few items for one or two customers, MarketDirect Fulfillment makes it easy to simultaneously provide an intuitive order portal for your customers and a lightweight admin dashboard for your staff.
This new software offers delivers out-of-the-box functionality for existing MarketDirect StoreFront web-to-print/eCommerce users, with a structure designed to reduce the time and complexities needed to start and manage print fulfillment operations. MarketDirect Fulfillment also leverages the latest in web eCommerce technology to provide a brilliantly simple and powerful administrative dashboard to manage both clients and orders.
EFI MarketDirect Fulfillment is ideal for commercial print and packaging businesses, in-plant print centers and corporate marketing communications teams looking to create immersive order and fulfillment portals for customers with an easy-to-use and intuitive administrative dashboard for staff. As a part of the EFI MarketDirect StoreFront web-to-print workflow solution, both customers and internal users are presented with a familiar interface that gets them up and running quickly and efficiently.
MarketDirect Fulfillment is designed for print service providers offering pick and pack, inventory management and warehousing services.
This includes:
MarketDirect is integrated with the following EFI Productivity Suite solutions:
In addition to EFI solutions, MarketDirect is designed to integrate with a wide range of services and applications to ensure your data, jobs, user data and orders are accessible across a variety of industry standard platforms including:
Active Directory – SSO (Single Sign On)
SSO (Single Sign On) Authentication enables you to integrate StoreFront with a service to ensure users can seamlessly login via 3rd party services.
CorpSystem Sales Tax Online by CCH
With CorpSystem Sales Tax by CCH, you can ensure you’re collecting taxes correctly for any jurisdiction in the United States.
PunchOut integration via XML
Using PunchOut integration you can embed your products directly into 3rd party procurement systems – simplifying purchasing for your buyers.
Every print shop faces some common challenges when it comes to managing their workflow, process automation is usually found in large print shops, with large print volumes and where jobs are printed over and over again.
Workflow Automation Software works in combination with other programs running in your print shop, it is important to note that some of your actual software infrastructure may already have some automation processes involved. To further automate the workflow is important to be able to communicate one software with another, in most cases, specific Workflow Automation software may not be required.
Software
Generally, print shops have one or more of the following software running:
A web to print software has many advantages and functionalities, first it gives your shop a front store, helping users find their way into what they will need and letting customize their final product, it helps the owner determine a print order management.
Variable data printing enables the mass customization of documents with text and image changes for groups of addresses based upon which segment of the market is being addressed. Customization and personalization allows a company to connect to its customers using a variety of software solutions.
MIS (Management Information Systems) help print shops collect and manage their own information for decision making, this software integrates with existing systems to help handle real time information and tasks, harvesting information and letting other connected applications take actions is essential for workflow automation.
Color Management it is the measurement and control of each and every step in your production process, maintaining as a goal to know exactly what your output is going to look like, before you actually print.
Sometimes, specific software may comply with many of the above-mentioned functions, for example:
Agfa has developed a complete, automated Sign & Display production hub called Asanti, the software includes a color management solution, integration with the latest version of Adobe PDF Print Engine (APPE), highly specific functionalities (e.g. nesting, see-through concept, proofing support) and fast, automatic pre-flighting.
Another good example is Durst Workflow software, claimed to be an All-In-One solution, which includes all steps of the pre-press and production process in one single application, modules are available for different processes such as: Label Workflow, Large Format Workflow and Corrugated Workflow.
Workflow
You need to determine the existing kind of production workflow currently being used in your print shop, if the work is built around a software-based flow of work, or from the point of quoting to the point of delivery, or do you have semi-automated processes linked by spreadsheets and/or different software, sticky notes, whiteboards, phone calls, regardless of any, if your workflow is not efficient, neither is your production process.
Possible and existent current workflow inefficiencies could be:
There are several bottlenecks but the most common ones are listed below:
Deciding to move to any new software for production workflow (MIS or similar) usually comes after evaluations of current productivity and researching for the right tool or correct operation processes. Reconsidering strategy often leads to new initiatives that include reexamining workflow initiatives.
For smaller shops, costs control is a must, so automation and use of modern print and workflow management tools becomes an investment that can convert into a risk, due to the potential expenses involved in implementing it, but at the end, it is all the cost of success.
Workflow initiatives and enhances
The best practice is to adopt workflow method and solution that helps automate processes, while focusing on efficiency, decreasing the operational costs while still increasing throughput and depending less on human intervention, in order to have employees invest time in more productive tasks.
Onyx Graphics is focused on providing complete end-to-end digital RIP and print workflow software solutions for Print Service Providers (PSPs) around the globe which includes the ability to implement automated workflows from design file to printed product on any print application including soft-signage and textile. Their latest version release is ONYX 19 and is available for its entire product portfolio or RIP and print workflow solutions.
Some of the features of the ONYX 19 that we can highlights are:
The Spark Engine
Performance platform built to maximize speed, performance and reliability; that includes:
DeviceLink+
Color management controls for consistent color output across any device, offering the ability to make profile changes such as ink savings without needing to build new ICC profiles.
iccMAX
Whit this option you can achieve precision in color and quality with iccMAX v5 profiling.
Dot Patterns
New dot pattern technology for all print applications with 3 new dot patterns that provide control and flexibility for the smoothest output.
Enhanced Stochastic:
Eliminate empty space in dot placement with improved correlation between ink channels
Line Stochastic:
Add screen angles to the black channel on top of our enhanced stochastic pattern for smoother linear output
Screen stochastic:
Add additional smoothness across black, cyan and magenta channels with screen angles on top of our enhanced stochastic pattern for all other ink channels