Annually, for over 30 years, the Printing Industries of America has been identifying and honouring new technologies deemed to have the potential to impact the graphic arts market in a substantial way. This year’s recipients of the InterTech Lucite Star awards demonstrate improvements in workflow integration, colour management, digital press design and overall operational efficiencies.
From a list of 21 submitted nominations, this year the independent jury selected nine award-worthy technologies. (Listed alphabetically by company)
ORIS Press Matcher from CGS Publishing Technologies International introduces a level of simplicity to the complex process of transforming colour data within digital files so that printed output from various technologies (digital presses, conventional presses, wide-format printers, and others) is consistent, gamut-optimized and visually matching.
Kodak NEXPRESS Dimensional Printing System from Eastman Kodak Company, a unique digital printing process that controls the raised height of text and images printed inline on the Nexpress digital colour press. The result is a tactile effect on the final product replicating the surface of the items pictured (the skin of an orange for example).
Kodak Prinergy Digital Workflow by Eastman Kodak Company is an automated system for controlling digital printing operations from one central location. The solution’s built-in rules-based automation eliminates common touchpoints in the typical digital production workflow.
System100 Software from Ebiz Products LLC, , is an integrated suite of software tools developed by a print shop owner to manage every aspect of a printing business. This browser-based software introduces a systematic process to any shop encouraging efficiency instead of chaos.
Fujifilm Taskero Universe ColorPath Verified Technology, submitted by Fujifilm Graphic Systems U.S.A., Inc., is a solution working in the background collecting data to a central database, viewable from a Web portal. The system monitors, verifies and can deliver alerts and reports on colour activity across a multi-process printing facility.
The Heidelberg Prinect Press Center is the highly-visual press console introduced at drupa 2008. The system’s Wallscreen allows press operators to view an animated overview of all press processes.
Diamond Color Navigator introduced by Mitsubishi Lithographic Presses (MLP U.S.A., Inc.) is a visual colour adjustment interface that speeds on press adjustments by allowing press operators to make color changes using their own colour sense rather than interpreting actual CMYK balances and without manual ink key adjustments.
Xeikon 3300 Digital Color Label Press, from the Xeikon division of Punch Graphix Americas, Inc., brings 1,200 dpi digital printing to label production and also handles heavy production loads and multiple substrate options.
Flex-Production Control System developed by SoftSolutions, Inc., a full production monitoring solution that provides real-time visibility between sales planning systems (management information systems) and shop floor activity. The integrated system provides live updates on production activity and identifies any potential problems areas.
A technology review booklet including all 21 of this year’s entries will be released in the fall, available for viewing on www.printing.org/InterTech.
