Client news

GMG Latin America boosts organization

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:15:40 -0400

Enrique Amigo joins Regional Sales staff, while Paulo Monteiro is promoted to Business Director, GMG Latin America

Hingham, MA USA (April 4, 2012) – As a result of expanding growth and greater activity, GMG Latin America, the regional business arm of GMG, a leading developer and supplier of high-end color management software solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Enrique Amigo (Enrique.Amigo@gmgcolor.com) to the position of Regional Sales Representative. In addition, GMG recently promoted Paulo Monteiro (Paulo.Monteiro@gmgcolor.com) to Business Director, GMG Latin America.

Enrique brings a wealth of color management expertise — including in-depth GMG knowledge — with over 20 years’ experience as a color management consultant in Latin America. Most recently, he was Latin America Director for GMG Consulting, an organization that cooperates with GMG, to develop consulting services and specialized technical assistance for color management. He established an interdisciplinary team supporting the management of commercial customers and provided GMG tools for the integration of color management solutions. Concurrently, he has been Web Editor-in-Chief at Red Gráfica Latinoamérica, developing and managing research content (notes, articles, interviews and audiovisual materials) for the graphic arts industry in Latin America. Previously, he was Technical Advisor for Quebecor World/Worldcolor/Quad Graphics Colombia, monitoring the prepress process and implementing GMG tools towards meeting the ISO 12647 standard for color reproduction. Enrique has had a number of other roles for vendors, print providers, and photography studios.

Enrique, based in Bogota, Colombia, will be responsible for supporting distribution channels along with Saul Arana (Saul.Arana@gmgcolor.com), who joined GMG early this year as Technical Support Manager, GMG Latin America. They both report to Paulo Monteiro.

Paulo Monteiro promoted to Business Director, GMG Latin America
Now in his sixth year at GMG, Paulo Monteiro will maintain GMG’s growing Latin American presence as Business Director. In this role, he will continue to build and manage distribution channels for GMG color management solutions throughout Central and South America. Paulo has specific responsibilities for sales, support, service and distribution and will also be the liaison to key industry associations and standards committees.

GMG publishes list of GMG Latin America Approved Dealers
In an effort to certify exceptional sales and support of GMG products in Latin America, GMG has recently posted their current list of Approved Dealers. Those from Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America can visit http://gmgcolorla.com/es/dealerslist, while guests from Brazil can access the list at http://gmgcolorla.com/pt/dealerslist.

“The addition of Enrique Amigo to our staff is extremely important to the continued growth of GMG Latin America. In three short months we have been able to add sales and technical support staff members who offer an important resource to our reseller network. And now, companies interested in exceptional color management can easily access our list of Approved Dealers in Latin America,” explains Monteiro. “Enrique is a valuable asset for us. He has demonstrated not only the ability to work well with dealers and customers, but also understands color management at a very proficient level. We are fortunate to have him as a member of our team.”
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GMG to present revolutionary spot-color technology at drupa 2012

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:55:18 -0400

Tuebingen (20 March 2012) – With a new, groundbreaking spot-color tool for package printing, a universal Cloud solution, the pioneering GMG ProductionSuite and further development of established proof and color management solutions, GMG has put together an exciting, innovative package for drupa in Düsseldorf.

Understanding the need among package printers, GMG has been very busy working on the new development of spot-color simulation. The new technology will see its worldwide release during drupa. On Stand B25 in Hall 4, GMG will be presenting its impressive breakthrough in the calculation of profiles for simulating the combined printing of spot and process colors. In conjunction with GMG FlexoProof, Dr. Hanno Hoffstadt, leader of the GMG research team promises “predictability that was previously thought unachievable. We know the packaging industry has been searching for technology like this. At the moment, we are working flat out on the products and expect detailed information to be available just in time for the exhibition,” he explains.

Building on its reputation as a world leader in proofing, GMG will also be unveiling its intelligent response to various softproofing issues - another drupa highlight. The company has developed a completely new cloud-based tool and will be targeting organizations across the entire publishing supply chain, from advertising agencies, photographers and repro studios, to printers and publishers, through to the brand owners themselves. The new GMG collaboration solution has a highly flexible and clear interface with intelligent tools for central management and control of all correction and approval procedures. The collaboration tool is the first in a series of innovative cloud based solutions, providing user-friendly integration of GMG color management. The product portfolio will include online color conversions, allowing users to apply color correction without in-depth expert knowledge or time-consuming local software installations. Managing profiles for various printing standards has never been easier or clearer. Furthermore, since only hard proofs guarantee absolute color accuracy, users will be able to take advantage of the integrated remote proofing function, or even local output, to view ‘contract color’ results at any time, practically at the push of a button.

The growing wide-format market
The GMG ProductionSuite has only been on the market since February this year, but it has already managed to win over many of the world’s largest wide-format producers. In a single application, GMG has combined the full range of functions needed today in modern wide-format production, including a PDF Editor, RIP, SmartProfiler and PrintStation. With the new ProductionSuite, GMG is breathing fresh life into the booming wide-format segment and will be presenting this impressive solution to a broad target audience at drupa.
Ian Scott, managing director of GMG, is looking forward to productive conversations with clients at the fair about products such as GMG ColorProof, GMG ColorServer or GMG InkOptimizer. “Many of our innovations are the result of valuable user feedback. Thanks in particular to our close relationships with our clients, our solutions are not abstract laboratory developments — they are tools that offer very specific customer benefits, and therefore offer real advantages in productivity.”
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DALIM SOFTWARE Will Release ES 3 at drupa 2012

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:23:50 -0400

Visitors to Hall 7a, Stand D07 will see the most recent developments in the company’s online production management platform

Kehl, Germany – DALIM SOFTWARE, makers of highly efficient, scalable software solutions for the creation, production and management of cross-media content, will highlight the latest release of its popular customer-facing online on-line production management, ES (Enterprise Solution), at drupa 2012. Visitors to Hall 7a, Stand D07 will see firsthand ES 3’s sophisticated business and production management tools, including a redesigned user interface that makes it easier to access, manage, control, organize, and sort projects and files. This latest version of the ES platform also includes a PDF-enriching option, and an API for easy connectivity with third-party applications. DALIM SOFTWARE will also show new enhancements to TWIST and DIALOGUE engine.

The ultimate user interface
ES 3’s next-generation user interface is smart, intuitive, and powerful. Think of it as an online business planner on steroids. New features, providing enhanced flexibility for users, include:
* Smart Folders, which can be dynamically created, depending on metadata matching certain criteria.
* A new check in/check out tool that takes the worry out of managing multiple versions, giving the operator complete control over the editing and updating of documents.
* Project Data Management creates subdirectories that organize project content—such as text and pictures—into meaningful, descriptive folders.
* ES DVL Broadcast, which lets users define and sort the pages of any project or job. A virtual clipboard gives users a flatpan view and the ability to manage multiple regional or language versions of a publication.

Additional tools
The Enrichment option lets brands and publishing customers leverage ES server technology to turn otherwise static, print-ready PDF files PDF files into interactive digital magazines, newspapers, corporate publications, brochures and catalogs—even adding movies and slide shows—on the iPad. Thus, the content provider has the tools to offer a much more dynamic ‘reader experience’ than just the pure conversion of a magazine ported to an iPad.

With its Application Programming Interface (API), ES 3 seamlessly integrates with any existing third-party MIS, ERP or DAM system, bringing in additional functions such as soft proofing. For example, an asset management system can use the ES platform to define partners in the workflow, develop approval functions, set milestones, and control every aspect of media production, regardless of the final destination channel.

UPM all-in-one color and workflow management
As one of the first users of ES 3, the paper manufacturer UPM-Kymmene Corporation, will introduce its new service for all-in-one color and workflow management, UPM ColorCTRL, at drupa. Powered by ES, UPM ColorCTRL is a cloud-based PDF workflow management application, offering approval collaboration, version control, pre-flight checking, collaborative softproofing and color optimization with GMG ColorServer. It is the first full turnkey solution of its kind covering the entire process from creating print ready PDF pages to the final, color-accurate print product. UPM ColorCTRL reduces time to market, and saves users time, materials and investment costs.

UPM is piloting the new service with selected customers during the spring and will introduce UPM ColorCTRL at the UPM stand (Hall 06 / Stand D60) at drupa.

Improvements to TWIST and DIALOGUE Engine
While this latest version of the ES platform will garner much of the spotlight at the booth, there are also exciting improvements in the latest releases of TWIST and DIALOGUE Engine.

For starters, TWIST is as much as four times faster, bringing even higher levels of productivity to the workflow.

In TWIST, the focus on PDF quality assurance continues, with a new feature—allowing users to automatically compare versions of a document with the control to stop the workflow process if a problem or difference is found. This new capability ensures that the PDF final output is consistent with the intent of the original, delivered file.

The very same compare feature can also be found as an interactive alternative in DIALOGUE Engine, allowing users to review, for example, even the most minute modifications between revisions during the proofing cycle.

The DIALOGUE Engine now supports the Just Normlicht viewing booth, to allow better control when using soft proofing during a press check. With an USB communication interface, when the user opens a file in DIALOGUE Engine, the system will control the brightness of the viewing cabinet and match the image on the monitor with the one on the cabinet—critical when conducting a press check.

“The challenge for anyone involved in media production today is to efficiently meet the evolving requirements of delivering content across a variety of platforms,” says Bertin Sorgenfrey, DALIM SOFTWARE head of International Marketing. “Our feature-rich technology streamlines the production process and manages cross-media content, automating repetitive tasks and file creation, replacing hard-copy proofing with remote soft proofing, and driving online file approval and delivery. At drupa 2012, visitors will be able to see our latest release of ES, providing the most advanced product planning technology available. Together with TWIST automation workflow capabilities and DIALOGUE Engine collaborative proofing features, DALIM ensures that our users have the most efficient, multi-channel production environment possible, with the ability to integrate all the content of a print or publishing workflow, both static and dynamic, into a single production stream.”

DALIM SOFTWARE will be making product announcements detailing even more new features during drupa.

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Esko shapes the future of signs and displays at International Sign Expo (ISA) 2012

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:52:22 -0400

Esko highlights Kongsberg finishing systems with the i-cut Suite design to print to cut workflow at booth 1026

Lake Geneva, WI (USA), March 2012 – Esko (www.esko.com) will show its design to print to cut workflow for sign and display shops at booth 1026 during the International Sign Expo (ISA) 2012, March 22-24, in Orlando, FL. Esko will demonstrate a comprehensive portfolio of end-to-end workflow and digital finishing solutions, featuring the Kongsberg i-XP 24, the Kongsberg i-XL 24, and the Kongsberg i-XE 10 Auto finishing systems. Workstations will offer demonstrations of i-cut Suite, a collection of pre-production tools that streamlines the workflow for digital printer, from prepress to finished product — highlighting automated capabilities offered by i-cut Automate.

i-cut Automate helps automate the i-cut Suite workflow
i-cut Suite lets companies that drive narrow or large format digital printers and/or digital finishing systems professional tools to streamline their workflows — the first offering sign & display shops a complete, integrated solution. Introduced in 2010, i-cut Suite has seen rapid popularity throughout the world.

i-cut Automate, the latest addition to i-cut Suite, ties the pieces of the i-cut Suite together, automating the entire production process from design to print to cut. Users can build dynamic workflows that automate repetitive prepress tasks, thereby enhancing productivity, reducing operator intervention and errors, and saving valuable time, money and materials in the production process.

i-cut Suite components include:
i-cut Preflight handles efficient preflighting and editing of incoming PDF files, ensuring that jobs will RIP and print correctly. It also lets users make any corrections working within the PDF file.

i-cut Layout is a module to interactively build and edit sheet layouts, ensuring that jobs make the optimum use of the substrate through intelligent true shape nesting and tiling. It also enables file preparation for printing through adding grommet marks, and creating cut paths and bleeds.

i-cut Vision Pro makes sure that die-less cutting contours match printed images perfectly. Often, slight distortions between printed graphics and contour cuts may cause unacceptable results. i-cut Vision Pro registers the actual dimensions and positions on the printed result. Then, finishing is adapted to the shape of the graphics.

With i-cut Automate, all of these functions are automated in a single workflow, with less operator intervention and fewer potential manual errors. Through Mac or PC based clients, operators can easily monitor the workflow and interact when necessary through a comprehensive checkpoint. Repetitive tasks are far less time-consuming through dynamic workflows that are easy to set up and operate in a client-server environment. i-cut Automate can also be integrated with Management Information Systems, enabling automatic job creation and the submission of job workflow parameters.

Users with more specific requirements can easily add supplementary modules: a structural design module to allow integration with all standard structural design programs; a graphics preparation module to create the cutting contour on both vector files and images; and a true shape nesting module offering a powerful, true shape nesting solution, particularly for irregular shapes.

ArtiosCAD: Design structure to 3D projects
For 3D projects, not only do you need graphic design software, but structural design software, as well. ArtiosCAD is the world’s most popular and advanced structural design software for signs and displays. With tools for display professionals, product design and development, virtual prototyping and manufacturing, ArtiosCAD increases productivity throughout the company and supply chain.

Intelligent drafting tools and smart standards save design time and reduce errors. Users browsing a POP library can find parametric design templates from which to either design POP displays in minutes — with the freedom to resize or redesign components — or stimulate the creative design process. ArtiosCAD can significantly help sign and display shops do an exceptional job creating structures for 3D displays.

The Kongsberg i-XP24: the world’s fastest digital finishing system
The Kongsberg i-XP 24, the world’s fastest digital finishing system helps turn short-run POP / POS displays, signage and many other applications into profitable, value added jobs. It provides a fast, flexible and highly reliable solution for short run production, letting sign and display shops offer their customers on-demand production with just-in-time delivery. With a maximum working area of 87”x126” and a maximum speed of 66” inches per second (ips), the i-XP can convert a wide range of board, sheet and roll materials. Demonstrated at ISA is an optional conveyor extension that can work with rolls or sheets/boards with an Auto-Feeder system to load material to the cutting table.

Kongsberg i-XL 24: Perfect for signs and displays
The Kongsberg i-XL 24 is the workhorse of the product line and best-selling Kongsberg finishing system among sign and display companies. It offers a comprehensive finishing solution for the widest range of materials, providing automation, high productivity and outstanding precision. The i-XL family, with a maximum material size of 87” x 120”, can also be delivered with an optional conveyor extension, along with the Auto-Feeder.
Esko partner Agfa Corporation (booth 1036) will also exhibit the Kongsberg i-XL24 finishing system.

Kongsberg i-XE 10 Auto digital finishing system
At ISA, the Kongsberg i-XE 10 Auto is equipped with a fully automated sheet feeder and off load stacker, specifically designed for finishing small-format, prototype, sample and short-run digital printed materials – rolls or sheets can be processed. The sheet feeder system automatically loads and places printed materials on the table. The ‘Pick and Place’ automated stacker enables non-stop sorting, neatly stacking finished pieces, separating waste from finished items. As a result, the machine can run virtually unattended. The Kongsberg i-XE10 can handle a maximum sheet size of 35” x 47” at a maximum speed of 52.5 ips.

“We are challenging sign and display printers to become more creative with their project work. In doing so, they can escape the square foot pricing model by adding value — and margins — with a broader range of substrates, contoured graphics and 3D capabilities,” comments Bill Hartman, Esko Vice President Business Development, Digital Finishing Solutions. “In addition, exciting opportunities — and efficiencies — are available to companies from workflow systems that automate the designing, printing and cutting steps. And, a starter system needn’t break the bank, nor disrupt the production process. On the contrary, they can add exceptional productivity efficiencies, from the designer’s workstation all the way through to the finishing table. It gets even better with the option to fully automate the process. The future for workflows in sign and display companies is certainly gaining momentum.”

For more information about Esko Sign & Display products, please visit http://www.esko.com/SignandDisplay

IO Integration Opens London Offices

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:34:12 -0400

UK Director Gary Fisher Brings Deep Expertise in IT Solutions for Digital Media

March 16, 2012: Cupertino, CA USA — IO Integration (IOI), a leading integrator specializing in digital media and brand management solutions for marketing, retail, advertising, and publishing, announced today that it is expanding into the United Kingdom, with Gary Fisher taking the helm as Director of Technical Sales and Operations.

IO Integration Ltd. will launch its UK presence offering world-class workflow and digital asset management solutions from industry leaders such as iBrams, Xinet, and censhare. The company will also make its signature IOI Professional Services available to UK customers. The IOI Professional Services group is made up of experts in customer-focused process analysis, engineering, and project management, and designs custom solutions to meet an organization’s specific needs.

Fisher joins IOI executives, including Managing Director Nigel Oswald and Director of Sales Mike Holt in the launch of this new venture. Says Holt, “We are thrilled about expanding our services into the UK market. From our London headquarters, we’re looking forward to being able to better serve our increasing, global customer base.”

IOI is one of Xinet's top systems integrators, using the company’s dynamic production workflow toolsets to manage digital media and speed production for over 400 customer installations. UK Director Fisher spent many years at Xinet, working with creative technologies that streamline workflows and production.

Andreas Michalski, CEO of Germany-based IOI partner iBrams welcomes the company’s expansion, saying, “IOI’s foray into the UK market couldn’t come at a better time. Through our longstanding partnership, we’ve delivered marketing solutions to customers worldwide. As global demand for our products continues to grow, having their expertise directly available to European customers is a huge win for everyone.”