Auto standards for presses with on-line scanning

Alwan Color Expertise is opening its automatic standardising system, Print Standardizer, to all presses with on-line auto-scanning devices, such as Komori PDC-SI/PDC-SII and Heidelberg Imagecontrol.

This develpoment, according to Alwan follows demand from the company's partners and standardisation organisations, and Print Standardiser will enable printers to cost-effectively improve performance and comply with standards.

Print Standardizer was originally designed to support Intellitrax, X-Rite's press-side auto-scanning device.

Alwan launched Print Standardizer, which is claimed to be the first automated colour quality control and ISO 12647 press standardising system in March.

Print Standardizer is a response to the fast-growing need for standards in the industry and it is said to provide printers with an easy and affordable way to achieve ISO 12647 conformance on digital and conventional presses.

When connected to an auto-scanning device, Print Standardizer is claimed to ensure presses conform to the three requirements of ISO 12647: solids (CIELAB colours), dot gain (TVI), and mid-tone spread.

And with Alwan's dynamic dot gain compensation, ISO conformance is achieved automatically in production.

There is no need to conduct costly, time-consuming and often insufficient test or calibration print sessions, added the company.

The first installations of APS v1.1 were conclusive and met expectations, said the company.

With an L740 Komori press and an embedded PDC-SI auto-scanning device, an LS640 Komori press with PDC-SII, and a Heidelberg Speedmaster with X-Rite ATS, Harding Poorman proved the ideal site to demonstrate the benefits of the latest version of Print Standardizer.

Harding Poorman's chief executive officer, Dave Harding, said: 'When Lacrosse Litho Supply told us we could print to standards with Print Standardizer on our three presses using our existing instruments - including relatively old ones - I thought it was a pitch to sell us more software.

But with Alwan's money-back guarantee, we had nothing to lose so we decided to try the system.

Print Standardizer really works - we print to standards and match our clients' certified proofs on the three presses better than ever before.

Our operators had no problem quickly integrating the system.

It means those endless press calibration printing sessions are a thing of the past.

Matt Fehn, director of technology at Lacrosse Litho Supply, added: 'We have sold and installed instrument-to-press closed-loop systems for many years and I am thrilled by the results of our first installations of Print Standardizer.

The idea of building an automated closed-loop system between press and pre-press is great.

But for it to really work in practice, the technology had to be very reliable - which is exactly what Print Standardizer is.

Alwan has fulfilled its promise of making presses match standards for every job.

Since its launch, Print Standardizer has made it possible for dozens of printing houses in France, Italy, the Netherlands, the UK and the US to adopt ISO 12647 standards, said Alwan.

Alwan also explained that Print Standardizer is also proving to be popular in countries where ISO 12647 standards adoption is gaining momentum.

Many printers are using the system to cut costs and shorten ISO 12647 implementation time.

Back to top