By Cassandra Balentine
Part two of two
Automation is increasingly essential for all production environments. This is especially true as digital and hybrid print environments need to efficiently handle many complex short-run jobs to remain competitive.
Software-based automation in prepress and printing has grown considerably in both the offset and digital print world over the past 20 years with many shops incorporating home-grown systems and/or JDF-driven systems to automate the layout and print processes. “More recently, there has been a push for improved workflow technology within bindery, with many manufacturers offering digital workflow solutions,” admits Bob Flinn, director of business development, Standard Finishing Systems.
In the pursuit of finishing and binding automation, hardware and software development advance hand in hand. “The evolution of digital workflows is essential to efficiently manage the diverse array of jobs per shift. Furthermore, the ability to seamlessly share job information among the machines involved in the production process is imperative, minimizing time-consuming touchpoints and enabling comprehensive automation. This synergy between hardware and software optimization is pivotal in achieving streamlined and efficient operations within the production environment,” say Stefano Formentini, VP, sales and marketing, Meccanotecnica; and Manrico Caglioni, president, Book Automation, Inc. – part of the Meccanotecnica Group.
Workflow Tools
Intuitive automation software plays a crucial role in optimizing bindery operations, improving efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing the quality of printed materials. “By leveraging automation software, print service providers are better able to meet the diverse needs of their customers more effectively giving them a competitive edge,” says Aarona Tesch, Product Marketing Manager, ACCO Brands/GBC
Automation can start as early as order entry. Dmitry Sevostyanov, CEO, Customer’s Canvas, feels that automating the order process is essential, especially for short-run jobs where minimizing prepress labor directly impacts efficiency and profitability. “Modern web to print (W2P) solutions are key to streamlining the workflow from receiving orders to moving them into production, effectively simplifying critical tasks such as proofing and securing buyer approvals. These advanced platforms excel in generating print-ready files, fully prepared not just for the printing phase but also detailed with specifications for finishing operations like binding. This level of automation effectively minimizes the manual effort traditionally required in order preparation, ensuring that short-run jobs can be carried out efficiently and with high quality.”
Customer’s Canvas enhances digital printing operations through integrated software features, including an embedded pricing module for instant online quoting and a user-friendly platform for setting up online product catalogs. It provides a What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) editor, enabling customers to customize their print products in real-time. The platform also streamlines the preflight process, offers comprehensive previews and approvals (including 3D visualizations), and automates the generation of print-ready files according to specific requirements, says Sevostyanov.
Customer’s Canvas W2P platform tailors print-ready files to printers’ specifications and automates order transfer from ecommerce to production, ensuring accuracy and efficiency. “This streamlines prepress processes, reducing manual errors and optimizing production workflows, indirectly supporting hardware efficiency in the digital printing process,” says Sevostyanov.
Muller Martini uses its Connex Workflow System software portfolio to take a pre-flighted PDF file and manage every step of the printing and finishing process through to the finished product.
Most Standard Horizon solutions, including perfect binders, are compatible with iCE LiNK, a cloud-based platform from Horizon that can provide device monitoring, KPI analysis, PM schedule/alerts, JDF/JMF workflow support, scheduling, job creation, editing ,and more. iCE LiNK can also work with most MIS operating systems and interface with off-brand finishing systems.
“We also partner with Ultimate Technologies to offer Ultimate Bindery and Ultimate Impostrip. Ultimate Bindery is an open JDF server that validates jobs and delivers finishing job tickets to automate make-ready on bindery equipment. It operates as an agent between prepress and post-press equipment to eliminate manual setup on the finishing device. Ultimate Bindery takes a JDF imposed job and completes it with all the necessary parameters needed to automatically set up finishing equipment. Ultimate Impostrip is prepress software that optimizes and automates imposition workflow, with scalable options for high-volume production environments. An extremely easy-to-use yet versatile tool, it is a useful solution for short turnaround delivery on marketing campaigns, transactional, and short-run books,” says Flinn.
Software plays a crucial role in automation and Industry 4.0 by enabling the integration, analysis, and optimization of data across the entire value chain. “While palamides GmbH does not develop automation software, our Automated Deliveries utilize and share data with such software to enhance the functionality of our equipment, production processing, and support our customers’ automation initiatives,” shares Stefano Palamides, managing director, palamides GmbH.
Software is essential for equipment manufacturers so customers are empowered to use Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), leveraging cloud-based platforms and services to access and share data in real-time. “Additionally, software enables customers to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to gain insights from data and improve product quality, performance, and efficiency,” comments Palamides.
Moreover, Palamides says the importance of open data cannot be overstated in future-proofing production and workflow for robotics, AI, and innovative IIoT technologies. “Open data standards and interoperability enable seamless communication and integration between different systems and equipment, fostering collaboration and innovation across the manufacturing ecosystem. By embracing open data principles, equipment manufacturers can ensure that their solutions remain adaptable and compatible with emerging technologies and industry trends, thus future-proofing their offerings for long-term success.”
Workflow Automation
Hardware and software development advancements work together to ensure seamless production in digital or hybrid digital print environments.
May2024, DPS Magazine
