The past decade has after all brought massive changes in the way print jobs are handled before they hit the press, with everything from web-to-print and online proofing to CTP machines hitting faster speeds and better quality than anyone once thought possible. But though these have been significant industry-changing developments, they were not always trusted or bought into.

At Ipex 2014, however, that will change. Printers will be heading to the pre-press vendors not because they want to take a sneak peek at the future, but because what they are offering is now business-critical. In fact those not making the purchase will now be the ones taking a risk, rather than the other way round.

Some manufacturers believe that software is becoming a key major focus, because printers are now looking to work collaboratively with creative agencies and print buyers to unlock the market potential. On display will be a full range of solutions including workflow, marketing automation, web-to-print and publishing.

After years of revolution, it seems then that many now believe this is the year pre-media will showcase how it is evolving into a staple, stable and incredibly effective sector of print. Most of the pre-press vendors’ workflow, colour proofing and CTP systems and solutions are now mature, with very comprehensive features and toolsets. Most of the upgrades over the last year and those expected over the coming Ipex year, are therefore expected to be evolutionary rather than revolutionary.

Visitors can expect that evolution to manifest in incremental improvements to areas such as automation, with better integration with management information systems. With JDF-based, seems to have hit a wall created by its own complexity, we may see vendors in this area include integration to digital printing devices within their workflow, and the ability to repurpose output for these many devices, as well as other ‘screen-based’ media such as smart phones and tablets.

It seems, then, that not only has the pre-press technology matured, so too has print’s place in the marketing mix. Whereas before print providers were taking pot shots at controlling marketing budgets with themselves as the hub of outsourced operations, now there are many companies holding those positions and using increasingly sophisticated software to provide ever more complex services.

At Ipex, visitors can expect the best of those solutions and integration, which are at the heart of everyone’s agenda. Granted, there may not be the fireworks in terms of leaps of innovation seen in previous years. But what is on offer this year is likely, more than ever, to be crucial to the profitability of the print providers of the future.

The Highlights

Accura    N1 D091
New for Ipex 2014 will be Accura’s eDocBuilder, a variable data/web-to-print engine, and a new visual interactive Production Scheduling module for its MIS. Accura will be hoping to demonstrate how the estimating, production, proofing, dispatch, invoicing, stock control, job costing and purchasing modules of its established MIS are well suited to SME printers.

Hybrid Software    S3 H250
Hybrid Software will use Ipex 2014 for the worldwide launch of a host of products under the umbrella of its new Cloudflow suite. Positioning itself as “the alternative” software vendor, Hybrid will be introducing Cloudflow Workspace, supported on Windows and Mac OSX, and interacting with MIS/ERP and custom- designed web pages. The new Packzflow being introduced meanwhile provides automation of pre-press functions based on native PDF files, with backend processing for the Packz engine, with Packz editing software offering 64-bit multiprocessing as well as multi-threading. Also being showcased will be the new Production Data Management software specifically aimed at labels and packaging, a new RIP module and a new Printplanner module that enables operators to use a web-based interface to position and annotate artwork on a sheet.

Konica Minolta    N1 C130
Reflecting Konica Minolta’s move into this area, the vendor will be, it says, demonstrating a whole range of pre-press products on-stand. The main focus will be Konica’s workflow system PrintGroove, which features a range of modules for web-to-print, job submission and pre-flighting, including JT Suite and JT Web. The vendor will be showing its software’s third-party integration, including partnerships with Vpress and DirectSmile, and demonstrating how its workflow solutions can be tailored to suit both commercial and corporate in-plant users. More details of what the firm will be showing will be released nearer the show.

Optimus    N1 C085
Optimus will be showcasing its Dash MIS and launching Job Ganging. This new software package’s automatic estimating and job bag creation modules, along with its integrated approach to stock control, purchasing, e-commerce and accounts can, says Optimus, help generate even greater efficiencies and savings.

Screen Europe    N4 C330
The latest version of Screen’s Equios universal production workflow will be in action at Ipex, showing how users can maximise press up-time and productivity. Equios will drive any of Screen’s inkjet presses as well as third-party digital machines, which means that operators only need to learn one set of tools and one user interface for multiple output devices, says the vendor.

Shuttleworth     S3 E292
Shuttleworth will be showcasing the latest developments to its MIS at Ipex. These include a fully integrated CRM, which now consists of a smartphone app that can instantly update vital information. The app is designed to give instant access to essential information including company, contact and enquiry details whilst working away from the office. Also highlighted will be the new real-time Dashboard which displays key performance indicator data at the click of a button. Also on display will be the newly launched job tracking functionality ‘Milestones’, which automatically updates jobs, so the status of any job can be viewed as it progresses through the business. Shuttleworth will also launch a new Mobile Stock app, enabling users to update stock transactions using a mobile device with barcode scanning if required. The app has been designed, not only to improve stock accuracy, but to make it quick and easy for users to record stock transactions.
 
Tharstern    N1 B135
Tharstern at Ipex will be aiming to demonstrate how its MIS solutions can be  specifically tailored to support the exacting needs and requirements of commercial printing and the graphic arts industry.
 

W3P    N2 C175
W3P is web-to-print software designed to remove the need to manually re-build a graphic design file into a web-to-print template. The W3P cloud software builds the web-to-print template automatically, direct from the native InDesign file, saving time on template build. W3shop includes the TemplateCloud library of templates and Fotolia connection to sell printing online to clients without a print-ready file.

Xeikon    S1 E090
On the pre-press side of things, Xeikon will at Ipex be showcasing its platemakers for newspaper offset printing and its basysPrint CTP solutions for commercial printing. The company will be hoping to demonstrate how these systems combine the latest exposure techniques with cost-efficient UV plate technology, high imaging quality and flexibility. For the flexographic market, Xeikon also offers digital platemaking systems brand ThermoFlexX.