Product category:
Printing Pre-Press Systems and Materials (Repro, Platemakers, CTP, Workflow, Document Management, Design Software, etc.)
News Release from: Artwork Systems | Subject: Webway, NeXML and Mnemo systems
Edited by the Printingtalk Editorial
Team on 23 November 2005
New Workflow Underpins Major Investment
One of Artwork Systems' most sophisticated workflow systems is in operation at Newcastle (UK) printer NSL, which has invested GBP4m in pre-press, CTP and press facilities.
One of Artwork Systems' most sophisticated workflow systems is in operation at Newcastle (UK) printer NSL, which has invested GBP4m in pre-press, CTP and press facilities as part of a campaign to break in to new markets In addition to its existing Artpro, Nexus Processor and NexusRIP, NSL has installed Webway, NeXML and Mnemo systems
This article was originally published on Printingtalk on 25 Apr 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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It will also be one of the first companies in Europe to start using PA:CT Certified PDF, which Artwork Systems launched earlier this year.
"With all this investment in hardware we needed a method of tying everything together - a workflow that would enable us to achieve the maximum production possible from the wide variety of output technologies we utilise - screen, digital and litho," said NSL managing director Duncan Hesse.
He added: "Two years ago we became the first screen printer in the UK to install a Nexus workflow.
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Artwork Systems Extends Artpro At LS Group
The latest investment in Artwork Systems equipment by the LS Group has taken the total number of seats of Artpro in use throughout the group to 17.
Artwork Systems Puts Pre-Press System In New Areas
Artpro from Artwork Systems has established itself in the packaging industry and is increasing its presence for companies operating in other markets.
At the time, we could see that what Artwork Systems had developed for the packaging market overcame many of the production challenges that are faced on a daily basis by a screen printer.
Nexus revolutionised our heavily manual pre-press department, with a level of automation that removed a bottleneck in production that had been a problem for some time.
What we want to achieve now is to expand the workflow both out to the customer, for example, for checking proofs and receiving jobs, and also internally to link with our current EFI Logic MIS system and the new CTP and KBA equipment, which are JDF enabled." He said that the ultimate goal is to have a totally automated workflow up to, and including, plate production.
With jobs arriving from customers as a certified PDF, as part of the new PA:CT standard, they could be fed automatically in to the workflow without further checking from NSL.
The MIS system would drive production using Artwork Systems NeXML facility, whilst job data would be sent to the KBA to pre-set all press parameters.
Hesse commented: "With Artwork Systems NeXML we are looking to the future because it will be the means to enable full integration with our MIS system." NeXML is the Nexus XML gateway that allows automation and workflow control from MIS systems or other database systems through XML job tickets, said Artwork Systems.
And Hesse continued: "NeXML has the ability to populate workflows from the XML job ticket.
Most Artwork Systems customers have a significant number of workflows on their Nexus system but they are only 10 to 15 modules in length.
Artwork Systems has helped us to create an environment that requires only two separate workflows on our Nexus system, but each has between 70 - 80 modules or gateway links.
This makes them complex but highly efficient in terms of automating many different steps." For the last few months NSL has been using Artwork Systems' Webway to provide customers and internal project teams with the ability to use a standard internet browser to view, amend and approve jobs.
NSL is now implementing Mnemo, a digital asset management system introduced by Artwork Systems to meet a growing demand from users to solve file management problems.
Over the coming months NSL will be taking on the larger task of implementing PA:CT Certified PDF, and this will involve supplying software and training to its customers.
"We've already been talking to some of our major clients and they are very keen on the idea of a guarantee of job content," said Duncan Hesse.
The benefits of implementing PA:CT Certified PDF as a common standard of working are numerous - shorter deadlines, improved quality control, reduction in operating costs, closer communication between pre-press house, printer and brand owner and a reduction in errors.
When a PDF has been certified and pre-flighted with a certain standard profile, the receiver can confidently trust the quality of the Certified PDF and print it, said Artwork Systems.
"The Artwork Systems workflow will help us to change the economics of how work is produced here at NSL and help us to create one of the most efficient printing plants in the UK," concluded Hesse.
NSL employs 100 people at its 70,000 square foot purpose built factory and provides a range of services for the international POS, 3D design and outdoor advertising sectors.
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