Also in the news EFI has announced plans to integrate the Adobe PDF Print Engine into its next-generation Fiery System Software. EFI says that upon integration completion, Fiery technology customers will be able to output PDF files with greater accuracy of rendering (ie transparencies), faster processing, and improved consistency with Adobe desktop applications, resulting in greater efficiencies that lead to improved profits for EFI customers.
Also, device-independent workflows will be enhanced via seamless JDF (Job Definition Format) integration and common technologies in the PDF Print Engine and Adobe Creative Suite.
In regard to MIS the company is now shipping EFI PrintSmith version 8.0, with new product features to improve efficiency and save customers time and money. EFI PrintSmith is a flexible, feature rich print management information system and the market leading solution for print and copy shops.
As part of its efforts to expand the devices its clients can support, PrintSmith 8.0 can now help manage roll-fed presses, wide-format and super-wide format printers.
Material calculations for roll-fed presses can be done by weight to support how paper rolls are typically ordered. For wide-format and super-wide format printers, materials and labor calculations can be done as a function of the area being printed, while pricing can be done by run or finished size with multiple calculation methods to determine price (including area). PrintSmith users can define each roll-fed press or wide-format printer within the system, entering machine costs, speed capabilities, minimum/maximum width of rolls, etc. The software also supports finishing capabilities for these processes. These significant enhancements represent a large opportunity for PrintSmith clients to take advantage of this rapidly growing segment of the industry.
EFI is also debuting the upcoming version of its Logic SQL print management software at Connect 2007, the printing industry user conference taking place through in Las Vegas. The next version of Logic SQL will offer estimating improvements, tighter integration with the PrinterSite portfolio, integration to Manhattan Associates warehouse and fulfillment solutions, and first-time super-wide format support.
Visitors to Connect are also previewing the upcoming version of the EFI Hagen OA management information system. The next release of Hagen OA includes many core enhancements for all clients and several key integration changes to add-on products.
Created by EFI's Advanced Professional Print Software (APPS) group, Hagen OA is an MIS solution designed to effectively support technology-driven printing operations, from medium-sized commercial printers to multi-plant enterprises. Providing a robust and advanced accounting package with high-end applications for estimating, job management, scheduling, purchasing, inventory and fulfillment, EFI Hagen OA allows users to collect, share, analyse and respond to information in real-time.
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