DIGITAL digest

Solutions Forum Gives Canon a Platform

CHICAGO—Canon U.S.A. recently held its Digital Solutions Forum 2003, an annual showcase of the company's technology and strategic vision. This year's event occupied more than 100,000 square feet of the McCormick Place Convention Center. A large portion was devoted to displaying solutions for key markets targeted by Canon, including financial services, education (on-demand books), law enforcement, general office, healthcare, color publishing and legal services.

"Today's demanding technology customer is giving considerable attention to workflow and the bottom line, and what an investment made now will mean for the future," asserts Kinya Uchida, company president and CEO.

The company has continued to grow despite facing a flat, or possibly declining, overall market, reports Tod Pike, senior vice president of sales and marketing, Canon U.S.A. Imaging Systems Group. MEAP (Multifunctional Embedded Application Platform), unveiled at the forum, is key to sustaining that trend, Pike says.

The open, JAVA-based development platform for multifunction devices enables the creation of multiple, customized software applications that run inside the device. It is said to empower third parties and customers, as well as Canon itself, to develop unique capabilities in devices that support the technology.

Canon MEAP will reside as a functional option on the interface, similar to the copy, mailbox and send functions currently offered. Once selected, a customized interface will appear that has been tailored specifically to the document workflow processes or other needs designated by the customer. Up to nine MEAP applications can be installed simultaneously on any given compatible device.

Among the first Canon devices slated to offer the MEAP architecture are the company's imageRUNNER Series, including the new imageRUNNER 5020/6020 Series black-and-white machines introduced at the forum. The company says it intends to release additional MEAP-compatible imageRUNNER systems throughout 2003.

From a hardware standpoint, the new series encompasses four models—the imageRUNNER 5020/ 5020i (50 ppm) and 6020/6020i (60 ppm), with 600-dpi resolution and monthly volume ratings of up to 200,000 and 230,000 impressions per month, respectively. All models ship standard with a document feeder, network interface card and Canon utility software.

The "i" versions are distinguished by including Canon Universal Send capabilities and printing as standard. Universal Send allows users to scan documents directly into the device for distribution to multiple destinations, including individual or groups of e-mail and Internet fax addresses, network or host folders and files.

The event also marked the formal introduction of the imageRUNNER 110M, which uses interchangeable toning stations and MICR (magnetic ink character recognition) font security to support both MICR and standard on-demand, monochrome printing applications. This model offers the same functionality and accessory support as the existing imageRUNNER 110, including 110 page per minute production.

Designed to work with either the imageRUNNER 110 or 150+ systems, the new C.P. Bourg BPRF (Perforating Rotating Folding Unit) enables two-up printing with in-line perfect binding. It is capable of supporting paper sizes up to 11x17˝.

A new In-Line Punching Tool also supports both engines, offering multiple, interchangeable punch tools for varying applications. It enables production of rectangular holes designed for plastic comb finishing applications.

To drive the devices, Version 2.2 of ImageSmart document mastering software is based on a standard PDF workflow. The upgrade delivers new job setup and workflow capabilities, including the enhanced SmartBoard 1.2 plug-in for taking full advantage of the engines' capabilities, a new tab creation function and an enhanced image editing tool.

In collaboration with T/R Systems, Canon is making available the Digital StoreFront, an automated Web storefront solution. It simplifies the job submission and proofing process, automates quoting and maximizes device utilization and job turnaround. Print providers own, host and control the customizable software solution, so there are no ongoing fees. (www.usa.canon.com)

Printcafe Connects With Users

LAS VEGAS—Connect 2003 drew more than 700 people to the "city of lost wages" for Printcafe's fourth annual users' conference. Attendees came from across North America, Europe and the Pacific Rim, in numbers up 10 percent compared to 2002, despite business conditions.

The event featured four general sessions and more than 130 breakout sessions. Topics were tailored to users of Printcafe's Hagen, Logic, PSI, PrintSmith and Prograph print management systems and add-on modules, as well as the needs of PrintChannel customers.

In his "Printcafe Report 2003," President Marc Olin outlined upgrades across the company's product lines and reaffirmed a commitment to working with partners to implement open standards and enable computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) for the printing industry. Olin also reported continued strong sales of the PrintChannel product, which is now used by some 1,500 corporations working with more than 100 printers.

While customers were given reassurances about plans for the organization and product lines, the event's timing constrained some sharing of information. The acquisition of Printcafe by Electronics for Imaging (EFI) reportedly is now on a track to be finalized in the third quarter of 2003. EFI has stated that it expects the existing structure and operations of Printcafe to be kept largely intact.

Guy Gecht, EFI chairman and CEO, reminded Connect attendees that completion of the acquisition was still subject to SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) approval and shareholder vote. Nevertheless, he outlined plans to increase research and development spending and invest in quality assurance for the PrintSmith, PSI, Logic and Hagen print management systems.

Udi Arieli, Printcafe's director of product management for CIM and Web products, challenged printers in his keynote address to change their ways of working and embrace modern manufacturing methods.

He explained the Theory of Global Optimization (TGO), which stresses the importance of clearly understanding process constraints, bottlenecks and throughput that dictate the performance of any printing plant. According to Arieli, process synchronization and optimization, enabled by a dynamic scheduling system, can help printing companies achieve greater profitability.

Among the companies represented in the event's exhibit area were: EFI, Creo, Komori, MAN Roland, Exact Software, MeadWestvaco, I/O Technologies, SmartLinc and Innovative Shipping and Mailing.

The management of Printcafe and EFI concluded the event with a commitment to a 2004 Connect users' conference and announced it would again take place in Las Vegas, but with dates to be determined. (www.printcafe.com)

Enfocus Launches Online Resource for PDF Specifications

AMSTERDAM—Enfocus Software, a developer of PDF-related software tools, officially launched CertifiedPDF.net. The online resource is intended to facilitate sharing of specifications used in creating, exchanging, verifying and working with PDF files, thereby ensuring all parties are working with up-to-date information.

Graphic arts professionals can subscribe—free of charge—to PDF specifications published by industry associations, printers, publishers or other contributing members. If they use compatible versions of Enfocus applications, subscribers will be notified automatically when specifications are updated. They also can opt for e-mail notification of pertinent updates.

Contributing members pay a yearly fee to publish specifications, and will be able to highlight their company or organization on the Website. The proposed fee structure is: Tier 1, $500 per year for up to 50 subscribers; Tier 2, $1,500 per year for up to 500 subscribers; and Tier 3, $5,000 per year for up to 5,000 subscribers.

The Website is designed to feature four main components:

* Specifications—a database containing all the settings needed to create and check that PDF documents are ready for production. In addition to Enfocus PDF profiles (required), entries can consist of software settings—Adobe Acrobat Job Options, profiles for other preflighting solutions, print settings for design applications, PPDs, etc.—and related documentation.

* Community—all participants will be invited to create an informational page on the Website, allowing contributors and subscribers to identify and access other "Certified PDF aware" organizations with which they can potentially do business.

* Resources—relevant news from the graphics and printing industries, the latest PDF developments and information about the site itself.

* Interaction—a place where visitors will be able to share knowledge, ideas, experience and comments. (www.certifiedpdf.net)