The upgraded module, which integrates with Tharstern's Primo MIS, utilises third-party online DTP software Chili Publisher, allowing users to create, edit and approve documents online.

Tresta Keegan, managing director of Tharstern Australia and New Zealand, said the new product would be ready for the Australasian market by early April and that the company had already secured deals based on previews.

"The e4print pro and Chili project goes beyond the usual web-to-print offering as the system captures much more than just the description of the item the customer wants to order," she said.

"This applies to product which might be variable data, stock items, print, non-print – an umbrella if they want.

"The system translates that order description to rich content that automatically begins the manufacturing process: it will create a job ticket, allocate stock, create a requisition, allocate production time and submit straight down into the workflow of pre-press, CTP or digital output – without the need for manual intervention."

Keegan said the Chili DTP tool also provided extended online proofing functionality, could convert InDesign files and consume templates from other web-to-print products.

Alan Dixon, managing director of Chili Publisher's UK distributor Workflowz, said: "Everybody who's seen how well it's been integrated has said 'wow, we didn't even think that was technically possible'. It really has raised the bar and Tharstern can now offer something in online document approval that was never there before.

Bram Verniest, managing partner of Chili Publish, said: "This was a textbook case on how Chili Publisher can be integrated with other software or platforms. Tharstern has done a terrific job."

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