JDF Finishing Workflows: Why Not?
Third-party finishing workflows from LithoTechnics, SoftSolutions, and your author.
By Trish Witkowski -- Graphic Arts Online, November 1, 2009
Metrix by LithoTechnics in an automated layout calculator used in imposition planning, and driving fiinishing.
Most every new, automated finishing machine is JDF compliant, offering innovative software solutions to communicate job data. Machine manufacturers we've surveyed agree that JDF works, and that it has penetrated other areas of the print production workflow. But few are successfully using JDF in the bindery.
“The audience is aware of JDF,” says Si Nguyen, director of marketing/technical for Duplo USA. “But I don't think they understand how to apply the technology in their daily operations.” He says suppliers must continue to educate the industry, along with actual demonstrations at trade show events. “An intelligent JDF-enabled folder can only reach its full potential if it is able to communicate to third-party upstream devices,” Nguyen says.
It seems much of the problem comes downto the JDF specification itself.
“JDF is working today, but only with advanced customers, and only with partially realized potential,” notes Mark Hunt, marketing director at Standard Finishing Systems. “It's unfortunate, but MIS and prepress software vendors today are still challenged to create fully functional JDF data sets for postpress.”
I'm encouraged that machine manufacturers are poised and ready to accept good JDF data—if it comes to them. The bigger issue we're facing is the multi-vendor collaboration required to generate and pass down the data to these machines. It's by no means impossible, but it's not going to be easy. However, the payoff of end-to-end automation is well worth the effort. There are a few third-party tools that improve implementation of JDF in the bindery:
LithoTechnics' Metrix is a layout calculator for commercial and gang-run printing, used in job planning by estimators, CSRs, and prepress operators to optimize layouts. Metrix integrates up front with MIS and down-stream in prepress and finishing. It can import JDF and export imposed PDF; select editions export JDF for prepress and finishing. Metrix Server 1.0 was a Must See 'em at PRINT 09.
SoftSolutions' Flex-PCS is a full production control solution that provides real-time visibility between front office MIS systems and shop floor operations, including postpress. The Flex-PCS system enables JDF and JMF integration on a wide range of both new and legacy equipment. Integrated on new equipment, Flex-PCS interfaces directly with existing JDF signals; with legacy equipment, it uses a direct machine interface via PLC controls to present job information to the operator and then monitors and reports machine production. SoftSolutions' FLEX-OS data integration platform has been linked to Hiflex MIS and Muller Martini's equipment and Connex digital workflow system to integrate MIS functions and postpress machines in an open architecture environment, using JDF/JMF formats.
The FOLDRite template-building software (developed by your author) will embed XMP tags with folding, scoring and trimming intent into their dynamic, production-ready InDesign folding templates. The designer's layout file can be exported to PDF, and a JDF file can be generated automatically for consumption by an MIS system where the data is sent to the bindery to control automated folder settings.
