On Demand Online: Workflow dominates digital show

May 27, 2003 12:00 PM, AP Staff

This year’s On Demand Digital Printing Conference & Exposition, held April 7-9 in New York City, drew more than 16,400 visitors despite a freak snowstorm. As the following announcements indicate, workflow was a key theme.

Heidelberg’s announcements included the expansion of its professional services offerings. A team of Heidelberg engineers, product-development managers and business-development experts will help customers integrate Heidelberg’s digital print devices and software workflow products with existing workflows, legacy systems and devices at the customer site. Also, at Graph Expo, look for a Prinect demonstration combining digital and offset workflows.

HP unveiled dual- and quad-RIP versions of HP Production Flow, an integrated software and hardware system said to streamline digital-printing workflows. As open-architecture digital front ends for HP Indigo presses, both versions are said to automate and manage the printing workflow process more effectively.

Océ used several applications to showcase PRISMA, its workflow-management software for automating multivendor workflows. The Océ VarioPrint 5160A was shown producing a healthcare-provider directory with halftones and highlight color. It was folded to an 8½ x 11-inch signature and finished on a Duplo booklet binder. This application was generated and archived using Group 1 DOC1 software.

Xerox announced a simplified set of workflow offerings: the FreeFlow digital workflow collection as well as an open, standards-based development platform, the Workflow Framework. The workflow solutions are tailored for service bureaus and corporate data centers, in-plants and corporate reprographic centers, quick printers, and commercial printers.

The FreeFlow collection includes the Xerox DocuSP, a production printer controller; DigiPath production software for scan and makeready, archiving and Web submission; and VIPP for developing PostScript variable-information output applications.

The company also will offer software-development kits for integrating Xerox components into existing workflow systems, and developing end-to-end workflow solutions. In related news, Electronics for Imaging (EFI) announced the availability of its Fiery Q4500 controller for the DocuColor iGen3, and Creo announced it will integrate its Spire controller with Xerox’s DigiPath.

Book production line
Delphax and five partners created a "Books for School" production line at On Demand and donated 6,000 books to several New York high schools after the show.

Softcover editions of "The Last of the Mohicans," "Little Women" and "The Odyssey" were produced at speeds up to 700 books per hour. Approximately six 400-page books were produced each minute, with changeover among titles after every 30 books to simulate a short-run environment.

Delphax’s CR1300 continuous-feed press, rated at 1,300 8½ x 11-inch ppm, was shown inline with a Stralfors LX500 series finishing system for cutting and stacking, a Shuttleworth conveyor/buffering system, Müller Martini’s AmigoDigital perfect binder and Amatco’s three-knife book trimmer. Boise Paper Solutions provided 50-lb. Dakota Digital Book paper.

The AmigoDigital reportedly can produce 1,000 fully variable books inline or nearline. The perfect binder automatically sets every length, width and thickness variable to the exact dimensions of the incoming book, reportedly reducing makeready times and eliminating potential operator errors.

High-volume imaging system
Konica’s ColorForce 8050 Imaging System is said to bridge the gap between the 24-ppm digital copier/printer segment and the color production market. It features 600 x 600-dpi resolution and Simitri toner, which reportedly eliminates the need for fuser oil. Print and copy speeds are 50 ppm for both color and black-and-white, with a rated monthly page volume of 150,000 pages. Paper capacity is 4,250 sheets from five paper sources: three standard 500-sheet paper drawers, a 250-sheet bypass tray and 2,500-sheet large-capacity tray (LCT). The 8050 supports multiple paper sizes up to 13 x 19.2 inches and paper weights ranging from 24-lb. bond to 110-lb. index through the main paper trays, and up to 140-lb. index through the bypass tray and LCT. An optional Fiery suite of tools includes color-management and proofing utilities.

Inline coilformer/binder
Spiel Associates’ Sterling Coilmaster II binding system is said to be the only patented inline coilformer/binder in the U.S. The original Coilmaster, reportedly the first automatic plastic-coil binder, was introduced more than six years ago. Three years ago, the Sterling Coilmaker was developed, creating a complete inline system, the Coilmaster II.

The Coilmaker forms plastic filament into a coil and automatically feeds it into the Coilmaster II. The coil is spun into the book from the first hole onward—cutting and crimping are done automatically. One operator reportedly can bind books at speeds up to 700 books per hour.

Three NexPress configurations, Digimaster 9110CP
Heidelberg’s NexPress 2100 digital color press is available in Standard, Xtreme and Entry configurations. The Standard version comes with the NexStation II SE digital front end and Acrobat-based NexTreme DL-100 variable-data software. The Xtreme edition is said to provide the most complete range of services, including complex variable-data printing. It is equipped with the NexStation II XE and NexTreme DL-100 variable-data software. The Entry configuration, with the NexStation II EE, is for print providers offering static digital-printing services.

Heidelberg also announced the Digimaster 9110CP for high-volume monochrome printing. It can print a wider range of substrates and paper sizes, up to 14 x 18-inch sheets. The press integrates with MetaDimension software, enabling commercial printers to use one workflow for both offset and digital print.

Saddlestitcher/bookletmaker
Standard Finishing Systems’ Horizon StitchLiner targets applications that are too big for flat-sheet collating/bookletmaking systems but too small for high-speed saddlestitchers. Offset or digitally printed flat-sheet signatures are fed from the Horizon Speed VAC collator to produce saddlestitched books with full-bleed trimming at speeds up to 11,000 two-up books per hour.

Papers for HP Indigo presses
Hewlett-Packard (HP) introduces HP Indigo printing paper for its digital presses, as well as a new Web service for specially mixed HP Electroink colors, two new versions of the HP Production Flow system and a new HP Designjet large-format printer. The paper is available in 12 x 18-inch sheets and three uncoated grades: 70-lb. text, 80-lb. premium text and 80-lb. premium cover.

Color-printer enhancements
Canon U.S.A.’s CLC 3900+ is a 39-ppm color laser production system for entry-level users. Also new is the CLC 5000+, which offers up to 50-ppm printing for mid- to high-end production.

Both systems can auto-duplex 60-lb. cover/90-lb. index media from their paper decks. Using a combination of four-drum technology and Canon’s Finer Brighter toner and automatic image refinement, the CLC 3900+ and 5000+ have print resolutions equivalent to 800- x 400 dpi and maximum recommended monthly volumes of 150,000 and 200,000 letter-size impressions, respectively. Both systems are offered with EFI’s ColorPASS-Z5100 and Z4600 servers, featuring Fiery System 5 software tools, including Command WorkStation 4 for centralized print-job management, ColorWise 3 for color management and Fiery DocBuilder Pro imposition software.

Java-less Web/document personalization
Exstream’s WebVerse is a new module for its Dialogue software that combines personalized document creation, campaign management and tracking, and multichannel delivery. WebVerse reportedly allows users to rapidly create and deploy Web applications that are used to interactively produce personalized Web pages and documents on the fly—without Java programming. Applications range from letters, proposals and statements to policies and enrollment kits.

Polywrapper, single-clamp binder
Bowe Bell & Howell’s DemandWorks compact polywrapping system has a footprint of less than 16 ft. The polywrapper reportedly maintains a continuous operating speed of up to 8,000 products per hour.

The company also introduced the DemandWorks single-clamp binder. Targeting midrange perfect-binding applications, it is rated at 450 books per hour. A cover-scoring and trimming mechanism automatically adjusts to a document’s thickness.

On-demand hardcover binder
Powis Parker’s Fastback hardcover binding system is designed to work with the company’s Fastback Model 15xs thermal binder to produce one book at a time. Cover materials include composition—which has a smooth glossy finish—leather-like suede, library and art cloth. Fastback hardcovers come in a variety of sizes, including 57/16 x 51/8 inches (CD size), 6 x 9 inches, A4, A5, and 8½ x 11 inches.