Heidelberg and EFI to Demo Cross-Platform Color Matching at GRAPH EXPO

KENNESAW, GA—August 24, 2011—At GRAPH EXPO this year, and in keeping with its theme of “HEI Flexibility,” Heidelberg (Booth #1200) will present new toner-based and grand-format inkjet digital devices alongside its conventional production equipment in live demonstrations of a multi-process, color-managed workflow. This capability is unique to Heidelberg, whose Print Color Management sets the standard for consistent color management from prepress to press for all devices, including grand-format inkjet equipment.

Heidelberg’s Prinect workflow will drive color management among offset, toner-based and grand-format digital inkjet equipment, represented by Heidelberg’s Speedmaster 74 and Speedmaster SM 52 Anicolor presses, the Ricoh Pro C901 Graphic Arts Edition digital press, and the grand-format EFI VUTEk GS3200, a hybrid UV inkjet printer for rigid and roll-to-roll printing.

Most Profitable Combo, Hands Down
Earlier this year, Heidelberg became a proud distributor of the EFI VUTEk GS Series inkjet printers. The VUTEk GS Series expands the high-margin opportunities of grand-format applications to help commercial print businesses achieve higher levels of competitiveness, profitability, and growth. Not only does the VUTEk GS3200 deliver superior photorealistic quality, but also, in combination with Heidelberg’s world-class color-matching expertise, ensures that the colors of all products produced for an integrated marketing campaign will achieve the same color consistency.

By adding this technology to its portfolio, Heidelberg gives printers the ability to complete the high-margin jobs—posters, banners, backlit signage, outside displays, as well as specialty fine art reproduction, fabric and upholstery decorating and package prototyping—their customers used to go elsewhere to buy. In turn, this promotes collaboration and tighter alignment with the printer’s client base. Heidelberg’s partnership with EFI is intended to support commercial printers in growing their core businesses by enabling them to offer more flexibility to their clients.

In the Heidelberg booth at Graph Expo, the VUTEk GS3200, Ricoh Pro C901, and Speedmasters will be linked seamlessly in a color-managed workflow as they print and finish materials for a simulated advertising campaign, whose components will be available for close inspection throughout the show. Heidelberg also will show printers how they can use the integrated Prinect workflow to route jobs quickly to the most cost-efficient production equipment.

Single-Source Advantage
Because color variance is unavoidable in campaigns printed by multiple vendors, a tremendous competitive advantage belongs to the sole-source provider that has applied color management to all of its production equipment: Heidelberg.

Heidelberg's full-spectrum solution for multi-process color management is Prinect Color Toolbox, a suite of tools for device calibration, ICC profile generation, and proof/print analysis. With Prinect Color Toolbox, the same color-managed Prinect workflow that supports a commercial printer’s offset department can give all of the components in a media marketing campaign the same look, feel and color compatibility. Printers reap the rewards in the form of higher selling prices and bigger profit margins.

Source: Heidelberg.