Show Review--Delivering On-demand
Digital printing is finally well beyond concept acceptance, as On Demand proved last month. New moves in on-press imaging and color server technologies—and the Internet—are delivering on the promise of digital printing.
BY MARIE RANOIA ALONSO
Given the impossible-to-ignore high velocity of the Internet as it targets multiple areas of the print production process lately, it is no surprise that the Internet is also targeting the time-sensitive profit center that is on-demand digital printing.
True to current form, the dotcom emphasis at On Demand in New York was staggering, but not surprising—new online solutions for on-demand document fulfillment, new Internet tools for the on-demand supply chain and new activities from the likes of Kinko's that position the Internet firmly in demand of on-demand printing.
Still, although pivotal at On Demand, the Internet was not the only talk at the Big Apple show. The show also marked the first public demonstrations of a new, elite generation of digital color sheet- and web-fed presses, with new devices on display from Heidelberg, Indigo, Xeikon and Xerox, as well as new innovations in on-demand color servers, notably an intriguing new launch by Scitex, and variable data software solutions, plus an array of front end technologies for streamlined workflows leading to on-demand finishing devices.
But first, the Internet . . .
E-News
ImageX.com, a business-to-business Internet solution for printed business materials, unveiled PrintPlace.com, an online vertical marketplace that provides content, community and commerce for the graphic arts. PrintPlace.com offers a new marketplace designed to serve buyers and sellers of print, prepress, paper and graphic design products and services. The paper industry is currently the area in which ImageX.com participates. PrintPlace.com is designed to provide supply chain value all the way from buyers and sellers to suppliers within the entire graphic arts industry. This marketplace offers complete functionality for procurement, print management, bidding services, auctions and workflow management systems. PrintPlace.com also offers a full range of content, news and industry links to help facilitate the full-service needs required throughout the industry.
MediaFlex.com, a provider of e-commerce solutions for the digital printing industry, announced a worldwide agreement with Sir Speedy. Under the terms of this agreement, Sir Speedy franchises will have the ability to provide customized, Web-based document ordering and fulfillment services to their major account customers using MediaFlex.com's online solutions. MediaFlex.com's e-commerce solutions allow Sir Speedy franchises to manage, distribute and fulfill on-demand print orders, providing cost savings and better customer service via the Internet. Sir Speedy chose MediaFlex.com for its customized order entry, document management and fulfillment capabilities.
MediaFlex.com's technology enables large numbers of short run on-demand printing orders to be placed from any location and then be processed with significantly less interaction by Sir Speedy personnel.
Kinko's and liveprint.com joined forces to create a new clicks-and-mortar business center solution. The new enterprise—kinkos.com—will combine Kinko's brand and worldwide retail branches with liveprint.com's e-business expertise, proprietary technology and online design tools and advice. As the endeavor evolves, customers of kinkos.com and Kinko's will gain access to a broader array of high-quality, customized products, enhanced customer service, faster turn-around and more delivery and payment options.
Impresse announced its support for the recently launched Job Definition Format (JDF), a new electronic job ticket specification brought forward by Adobe, Agfa, Heidelberg and MAN Roland that is designed to improve process automation, collaborative workflow and asset management to both print and cross-media publishing markets. Impresse will integrate support for this new job ticket specification into its online print creation and procurement service, impresse.com. JDF support is one component of the upcoming joint rollout between Adobe and Impresse, slated for this Spring.
Also, Moore Corporation announced it has selected Impresse as its e-commerce solution for Moore's commercial print customers. Impresse will provide Moore and its global customers with a platform for online ordering, tracking and fulfillment for their commercially printed documents.
printCafe, the mega-launch that encompasses leading-edge technology and computer management system manufacturers Prograph, Programmed Solutions, Hagen Systems, Logic, AHP, Banta Integrated Media and others, plus the Internet efforts of thermal CTP innovator Creo Products, announced it signed a letter of intent to acquire M Data, developer of PrintSmith. PrintSmith is a premier single- and multi-user business management software program.
Noosh announced details of new agreements with technology and printing partners such as DAX and Commerce One, and with corporations using the noosh.com service such as J. Crew.
Additionally, Noosh unveiled a new version of its service, which includes calendaring and a revamped contact manager in the printer sales force automation area.
PagePath announced the release of a suite of new customizing options for its MyOrderDesk e-commerce solution. MyOrderDesk increases the efficiency of the procurement process by enabling a graphic arts service provider's Website with sophisticated workflow capabilities. MyOrderDesk is free and consists of a secure, Internet-based order entry, file transfer, confirmation and job management system. MyOrderDesk can be added to an existing Website or used on a standalone basis.
In other news . . .
Splash announced the signing of a distribution agreement with IKON Office Solutions. IKON will be distributing the Splash T200e, Splash T200 and Splash T240 color servers. The Splash T200e, Splash T200 and Splash T240 feature a new Splash-Linux architecture based on Splash's advanced compression and color technologies, combined with the Linux operating system and standard Intel processors. All three models include new design and hardware features, including a small form-factor case and innovative touch-screen color LCD located on the server. The Splash T200e and Splash T200 color servers are tailored for office and work group environments, as well as quick print shops, while the Splash T240 is targeted at more sophisticated production applications in corporate reproduction departments, quick print shops and small graphic design studios.
eikon gave the first public demonstration of the Xeikon CSP 320D, a sheetfed, digital color production press. The Xeikon CSP 320D is capable of handling production volumes of up to 100,000, 8.5x11.5˝ sheets per month. Xeikon also demonstrated print-on-demand applications utilizing the DCP/50D eXpert Plus DFE, a flexible digital front end available for on-demand and complex variable data printing.
In the world of Indigo, the emphasis at the show was on its array of digital offset presses, including Indigo's e-Print Pro+ and UltraStream 200—the first of Indigo's Series 2 ultra-high-speed digital offset color presses, available in both sheet- and web-fed varieties. Indigo demonstrated, for the first time in North America, its newly introduced Ebony black-and-white digital press, the company's first entry into the document production market. There were also live demonstrations of the IndiChrome ink mixing system, which allows spot colors to be created on-site by the user.
Xerox unveiled the DocuColor 2000 Series of digital color presses. It includes the DocuColor 2060, which delivers 10-cents-per-page operating costs for producing full-color prints and sets a new 60-pages-per-minute (ppm) speed benchmark for color sheetfed devices. Also announced was the DocuColor 2045, a 45-ppm engine with the same "clean sheet" design as the DocuColor 2060. "Digital Blanket" technology improves image quality and reliability by performing an image transfer from the unit's four photoreceptors to the substrate.
Xerox also presented a suite of new offerings that will take the DocuTech family into its second decade. The DocuTech Series 2000 includes the DocuTech 6155, which prints at speeds as fast as 155 pages-per-minute; a major new release of DigiPath Production Software, that adds more than 50 features; and a high-speed Xerox DigiPath production scanner. The DocuTech 6155 incorporates many of the features introduced with the flagship 180-ppm Xerox DocuTech 6180, including 600 dpi image quality and 7,000-sheet capacity.
Roll Systems announced that its popular DocuSheeter print-on-demand roll-sheeting system supports the newly launched Xerox DocuTech 6155 Publisher. The DocuSheeter complements the DocuTech's production capabilities, feeding the DocuTech continuously for hours and producing up to 50,000 sheets per roll. The solution is designed for high-volume document processing applications.
Scitex announced a new on-demand color server product line—Spire server, for digital printers. Spire servers are based on an open, modular architecture and a Windows NT-based operating system, plus support for a wide variety of image formats and a comprehensive color management system. The newest addition to the connection of Scitex's ongoing relationship with Xerox is the connection of Spire servers to the Xerox DocuColor 2000 series. In addition, a customized Spire configuration is integrated into the Scitex VersaMark digital color press, an ultra-high-speed digital printing system developed by Scitex Digital Printing.
Georgia-Pacific announced it will expand the distribution of Microprint ink-jet paper by making the product available through its national merchant network. Microprint ink-jet paper offers a 94 brightness.
Canon announced the immediate availability of the ColorPASS-Z60 print controller for its CLC 1100 series color copier/printer line. Developed for Canon by Electronics for Imaging (EFI), the ColorPASS-Z60 print controller is the most powerful ColorPASS solution ever offered, featuring a completely new motherboard architecture, resident Windows NT, enhanced color accuracy and management, and file compression technology that significantly improves total productivity.
Heidelberg USA announced a perfect binding solution for the Digimaster 9110. The Coverbind 500 and Coverbind 201DFS use a heat-treated bind that gives printers flexibility in a perfect binding collation. Coverbind 201DFS is a free-standing production unit that automatically binds documents with spines up to 2˝. Heidelberg also demonstrated the Quickmaster DI 46-4 plus, for standard digital offset printing in a two-up format. The QM DI 46-4, with 900 installs worldwide to date, is enhanced with the new version, which allows for shorter makereadies.
