Workflow
Falth & Hassler streamline production processes through integration of Fujifilm XMF Workflow and HIFLEX MIS
Friday 25. June 2010 - Fälth & Hässler AB produces large, high quality full-colour books and full colour magazines, as well as specialising in the excellent reproduction of colour images on uncoated paper. Based in Varnamo, Sweden, the company prides itself on is ongoing investment in cutting edge technology that has streamlined the printing process from start to finish.
Like many printers, Fälth & Hassler focuses on maximising productivity without increasing resources and has invested in a Screen thermal CTP engine, a ZAC processor, a Xerox iGen3 – all supplied by Fujifilm – as well as two new manroland 700 direct drive 8-colour perfectors, and highly automated perfect and thread-binding lines.
This focus on productivity means that Fälth & Hässler is always willing to embrace new technologies and solutions. Christer Ringblom, information systems manager, explains: “We pride ourselves on being at the cutting edge of technology to make sure we deliver the best possible levels of service to our customers as efficiently as possible. Also, we like to make our investments work hard for us and always endeavour to get the most added value from our software and hardware, maximising production capacity without raising overheads. Having invested in Fujifilms JDF-based XMF workflow, integration was a natural step for us to maximise the effectiveness of our jobflow from estimate to press.”
With these priorities on the agenda, Christer approached Fujifilm with a view to achieving advanced JDF workflow integration between XMF and its incumbent MIS solution from HIFLEX. Working from XMF workflows native JDF architecture, Fujifilm was ideally placed to begin implementing a solution working collaboratively with the HIFLEX development team and staff at Fälth & Hässler. The result was connectivity that delivers jobs from the MIS with minimal intervention needed by prepress, automatic feedback on production for proof and plate and creation of CIP previews ready for the press.
The seamless integration of XMF Workflow with HIFLEX MIS means that printers such as Fälth & Hässler can further automate their production processes and receive accurate job-costing data from prepress, thereby providing more precise estimates and job analysis, resulting in considerable cost and time savings.
Christer explains: “Over 90% of job estimates created through the HIFLEX MIS are sent directly to XMF, where the job is automatically generated, imposed and ready for processing. Jobs are placed in the XMF Workflow queue directly from the MIS job ticket, with many of the production settings, from pagination to imposition, predefined. This means that our operators dont have to re-input these settings manually which of course saves time and reduces the margin for error.”
With the full integration of the two solutions, jobs now have a single instance across the production cycle, from estimate, to plate output and to CIP data previews arriving on press, resulting in end-to-end automation. As Christer points out, “This single instance of jobs means that anyone involved in the production cycle has visibility of the job, regardless of its position in the process.”
“From a cost point of view, its fantastic for both us and our customers. Job-costing data is automatically reported into the MIS, eliminating the need for manual data capture by one of our operators, and helping our ability to control production costs and refine the accuracy of estimates. Add to this the fact that its helped our prepress department to increase capacity with no extra resource and you can see why were so pleased with the integration.”
He concludes: “Were not only delighted with the results that the integration is bringing but are also very impressed with Fujifilms commitment to the ongoing implementation. This involves a great deal of collaborative working with both ourselves and HIFLEX, something which has ensured the success of the integration.”