Over the past few years everybody has been going on about JDF this and JDF that. You must automate otherwise you won't make it in the next five to ten years. Now this is all well, good and very true. JDF is the future of production automation or streamlining your business, but let's face the facts.
An average MIS system will cost you in the region of R500k to R2 million depending on the system and size of the business. How many print shops out there can afford these types of systems? Furthermore, if you really drill down we only have about five worthwhile systems in South Africa in the form of Kodak, Agfa, Heidelberg, Hiflex and so on, but as stated before, not every printer has the budget, or will ever have the budget, for these systems. Now think about how they must feel if they constantly hear about “automate or close your doors”?
During the last week of August, Dewald Rosema from Exell Technologies attended the Gradual Lagoon event in Belgium. This event was on invitation only and Exell Technologies was the only African company attending this international product launch from Gradual.
The main aim of this event was to launch the new version of the Switch product range, but more importantly to introduce “CrossRoads” - an online communication portal for suppliers and users from around the world, similar to what Printing Questions has set out to establish over the past few months, and we're very close to launching the improved site, with full functionality such as weekly newsletter, index listing, knowledgebase, careers...
Now this article is not about the event but more importantly on what Exell Technologies brought back.
In a short version, affordable workflow automation tools, giving all business sizes a fair change in automating their workflow, no matter how small or how big. These products can and will benefit every size of creator, agency, printer or client. Whether it is in terms of receiving files, pre-flighting, colour correcting, PDF editing, imposing or just transporting files digitally, there is a package available for it in every aspect.
So, where and how? Well, basically 99% of companies are already using either one or more of products such as Adobe, Quark, Pitstop, Markzware and a few others, but how do you gel them together in an automated workflow or enhance your workflow? Easy, by adding them all into the Gradual product range of Switch - either PowerSwitch for the more advanced workflow or LightSwitch for a lighter workflow. No, we did not only bring back one package, but we're adding a host of products to improve and ease out the everyday manual tasks. These products include:
- Callas: One of the best affordable PDF colour conversion, PDF correction and PDF inspector programs around the world. Callas has been involved with PDF for many years and just one example of the power of Callas is to have a look at the Adobe pre-flighting engine, done by Callas. So, if Adobe is using it, why shouldn't you?
- Quite: Quite Imposing, Imposing Plus and Quite Hot Imposing are three different versions of this worldwide, simple and easy-to-use impositioning software. You can basically impose PDFs from any source. Easy to work with bleeds, creep, trim and shift, step and repeat, ganging pages, add page numbers, and masking tape.
- DevZeroG: In short, a rock solid data distribution and file transfer application that links creation and production with ease. Whether you're in advertising, publishing, print, video production or in any other industry that requires you to receive, submit or distribute large files, nVerge saves time and money through its robust, reliable and secure data transfer capabilities. With this DevZeroG also brings another product called PrintSure. PrintSure allows printers, publishers and pre-press bureaus to reach out to their customers and offer them a simple way to check, fix and submit jobs in real-time.
- We all know Pitstop and you've heard of Markzware. There are also a few other products but more on that a bit later.
To sum it up, the Gradual packages basically gels the above systems and more together to offer you a truly automated workflow, whether it is with hot folders, automatic links or simple drop-in folders. The beauty of it is it's not a massive startup cost, seeing that most companies already have the basic systems in place.
For further information, visit www.ExellTechnologies.com or contact Dewald Rosema on 012-345 6770 (Office) or 084 677 4077 (Cell).
Visit our PRESS OFFICE: Specialising in software licensing and workflow consulting, mainly focusing on production process automation and supplying all required software and hardware platforms such as Adobe, Quark, MAC and more...- more....
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