Screen to Launch Automated Web-to-Delivery Workflow and Digital Print-on-Demand Solutions at drupa 2012

“Take a Closer Look” is Screen’s theme at drupa 2012, May 3-16 in Düsseldorf, Germany, as it invites the global print industry to experience the power and flexibility of its automated web-to-delivery print-on-demand (POD) solutions. These are designed to meet diverse customer needs for general commercial, direct mail, transpromo, newspaper, book and variable data applications.

In Hall 9, Stand A40, Screen will launch the complete EQUIOS universal workflow and demonstrate the latest enhancements to its highly flexible and successful Truepress Jet520 digital web press. The digital sheetfed Truepress JetSX, previewed at Ipex 2010, receives its commercial launch at the event along with several enhancements. The company will also reveal new products at the show for wide-format inkjet and the label industry that further extend its POD offerings.

“Despite challenging global economic times and pressures on the print industry, Screen remains a strong and profitable company that is undergoing an exciting transition,” says Katsuhiko Aoki, President of Dainippon Screen’s Media & Precision Technology Company. “Our strategy of evolving into a digital print company to meet the changing needs of the graphics market began in 2006, and at drupa this year we present a range of powerful digital print-on-demand solutions. Today, we are proud to be the world’s leading manufacturer of both high-volume web-fed inkjet printers and CTP devices.”

SCREEN’S DRUPA HIGHLIGHTS

EQUIOS: a single universal workflow to drive complete, multi-device production

At drupa, Screen launches its EQUIOS universal workflow that has been designed for conventional and personalized printing environments. This single workflow with a single interface drives streamlined production from web to print to the delivery of the finished item automatically. With EQUIOS, users don’t need to operate different device-dependent workflows, each with a different way of handling imposition and color management, to drive their variety of Screen and third-party CTP, toner and inkjet devices.

EQUIOS provides integrated job management with consistent color management across different output devices. Communication with a variety of third-party finishing systems is automated via EQUIOS JDF.

The EQUIOS Autoflow function, which will be shown for the first time at drupa, will allow users to define print workflows according to the product type selected. This can be integrated into any web-to-print interface so that web ordering automatically generates a print queue and associated finishing instructions.

Drawing on Screen’s long history of prepress file handling, EQUIOS integrates some of the most powerful, yet easy to use, imposition tools available. A library of standard imposition templates covers most digital press applications, as well as having the flexibility to deal with more complex litho tasks.

Color management is another key strength of EQUIOS that advances what was already available in Screen’s Trueflow prepress workflow. The ability to handle text, graphics and images independently ensures the highest quality results.

A world first for Screen at drupa 2012 will be the introduction of a cloud-based variable data application that simplifies the production of variable jobs and gives printers an investment-free entry into the fastest-growing area of printing. Designers and data owners can collaborate on projects via a standard web browser before the finished file is sent to the print provider (EQUIOS user). This service will be launched within the next 12 months and demonstrated on the stand at drupa.