The new service has been created in response to requests from inkjet press vendors struggling to get the most out of their presses
A new software and engineering services package for inkjet press manufacturers that will help them get to market quicker by overcoming the technical hurdles involved in developing a new press will be unveiled at drupa by Global Graphics Software.
Formalising a concept that it has been working on for three years, the company is introducing its ‘Fundamentals’ service, which provides manufacturers with a single source for the key software components and engineering service that are essential to building a digital front end. It is aimed at label, packaging and commercial inkjet press manufacturers initially, and the goal is to help them to reduce their time to market and engineering costs.
‘Fundamentals is the result of our interaction with inkjet press manufacturers who are pushing the boundaries of inkjet technology as they bring new models of presses to market,’ said CTO Martin Bailey. ‘Every press, every application and every operating environment is different. Companies often can’t solve the problems they face in the development phase of a new press on their own. That’s where we can step in and help them out with our combination of best of breed software and our new Breakthrough Engineering Service.’
Eric Worrall, who heads up the Global Graphics’ Breakthrough team, said, ‘We work side by side with the manufacturer to create a solution that is truly customised to their press and its operating environment. In doing so we give the manufacturer access to our tools and a unique pool of print scientists and engineers with decades of specialist knowledge exactly when they need them.’
Fundamentals includes a number of software components, some of which are from other vendors. Among them is an OEM version of Cloudflow from Hybrid Software and this marks the start of closer collaboration between the two companies, both of which share the same chairman in Guido Van der Schueren.
The other components are Label Layout Station for estimating and planning single or multi-gang orders on roll-to-roll at the start of the print workflow; Harlequin RIP for feeding pages to the press integrated with Cloudflow; ScreenPro standalone multi-level screening engine for addressing quality defects that can’t be corrected mechanically; Harlequin ColorPro for consistent and predicable colour for a wide range of workflows; ProofScope for soft proofing and Mellow Colour for colour and print quality management.
The cooperation with Mellow Colour is also an essential part of the offering. Mr Bailey said, ‘We recognise that inkjet in production is quite a new technology that hasn’t been completely tied down in terms of colour management. Working with Mellow Colour, we can offer press vendors the power to understand how their press is performing and the ability to undertake remote diagnosis. This is invaluable when running beta testing where the vendor needs to get as much information out of the site as possible.’
The package works with or without the Harlequin RIP and is the company’s response to the many press vendors that are looking for the optimal choice of software components to drive their inkjet presses. A key ingredient is the Breakthrough Engineering Service provided by Global Graphics colour scientists, screening experts and RIP technologists.
