Heidelberg revamps Prinect print shop workflow

Heidelberg is completely revamping its Prinect print shop workflow, which will now be available in the cloud.

The new workflow suite is called “Prinect Direct” and marks a further milestone for autonomous production in print shops as all the new workflow functions will gradually be made available to customers in the form of cloud-based apps.

“With the new Prinect Direct cloud-based workflow, Heidelberg is moving a big step closer to autonomous production in print shops in line with our Smart Print Shop concept,” Heidelberg head of software solutions Christopher Berti said.

“The new Prinect apps eliminate most manual steps throughout a print shop’s production process – from job creation all the way through to delivery of the finished print product.”

Following the launch of Print Shop Analytics, where customers can use to monitor their print shop’s KPIs in real time, Heidelberg has launched its Smart Product App – the second Prinect app in the new Prinect Direct workflow.

This app automates job creation at the prepress stage without restricting design creativity or the possibilities of print production.

For example, it includes a user-friendly cloud-based job creation function with automatic quality control of the PDF files produced. Besides the PDFs, all additional types of job data – referred to as the “product intent” – are also compared with each other.

The straightforward user interface guides everyone from print buyers to print shop staff intuitively through the job creation process to the PDF stage and, if appropriate, all the way to the approval of proofs.

The aim is to ensure an error-free, clearly defined job (the “smart product”) – consisting of the print-ready PDF and the desired print product properties for automatic production – that is produced autonomously via the impositioned printing plates right through to the press.

Prinect Direct uses the data stored during job creation to independently decide on the most cost-effective production process.

The existing Prinect Production Manager software, which is compatible with Prinect Direct, still supports print production.

The Smart Product App is scheduled for launch in the fourth quarter of this year for many commercial products. It is envisaged that labels and packaging will be covered by subsequent versions.

Heidelberg said further Prinect apps will be introduced gradually over an extended period.

“The ultimate goal is to create a fully digitised and automated print shop – a true smart factory. Moving forward, the new Prinect Direct workflow will also put an end to the current separation between commercial and production processes, providing appropriate functions in a single workflow,” it said.

“This will make print shops more cost-effective and fully utilise their automation potential. Users can access the Prinect apps via the H+ customer portal, which was launched last year. Software updates take place over the air without interrupting print shop operations.”

All existing Prinect customers can continue using their workflow system, including Prinect Production Manager. Both system environments are being enhanced, with the focus on new functions in Prinect Direct.

All the other upcoming Prinect apps are compatible and use existing functions for applications such as printing plate output based on the Adobe PDF Print Engine.

“The Prinect Direct innovations will add further value to the investments of our existing Prinect customers and give them investment security,” Berti added.

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