Offset Printing

Fine Print Services undertakes three supplier integration project

Tuesday 16. September 2014 - Following on from the installation of a Speedmaster XL 75-5 at the start of the year, Fine Print has called on Heidelberg's integration services to link Prinect prepress and press modules with Papermule's Digital Asset Management programme and Shuttleworth's Management Information System.

“The aim of this project was to automate processes and to speed up the supply of proofs and finished work to customers. Now we have proactive alerts from Shuttleworth’s Milestones module if a job is falling behind on its target delivery and know with confidence where a job is in real time. We also benefit from reliable shop floor data collection so we can review issues like job time, press downtime, plate or other resource use etc and ensure our costings are right,” says Dan Bakewell, managing director of the Witney, Oxfordshire, company.
Closed loop colour is already a taken. Its existing Speedmaster CD 74-5 already had Axis Control and the new Speedmaster XL 75-5 uses the automated Inpress Control and Color Toolbox calibration system. This allows it to print to top colour standards for the promotional work it produces, primarily for the pharmaceutical and healthcare markets.
“Although JDF/JMF integration with three different suppliers was going to present challenges we went ahead and were very impressed by the commitment and professionalism of all the parties involved,” says Mr Bakewell.
“The project began after the press was installed in February. It didn’t take very long for the core connectivity to be completed but this type of automated integration does require time to complete, to maximise all of the potential. We are very pleased with the results and JDF integration will continue. We envisage connecting our finishing operations in the future but that is something for another day.”
Now if a customer orders a re-print, the system will automatically send out a proof to check its right before it goes to print. The system links to both litho and digital presses. Information between departments is much faster, machine set up slicker and the data feedback more robust.
Fine Print has worked with two of Heidelberg’s colour and integration experts Mark Barrett and Mark Harris and Mr Bakewell has been impressed by their knowledge and proactive approach to fulfilling the project targets. Heidelberg recently announced a regional colour services with two technical experts in three regions (North, Midlands, South) to handle an increased demand for Print Colour Management and ISO 12647-2 certification services.