Press Release Almanac: 30 May 2008

Keep up to date with the latest industry news and releases. This week you can read all about developments from Metrix and cielab.

Metrix(r) 3.1, Enhanced JDF connectivity to be showcased at drupa
cielab picks up Ilford agency, launches low-cost online consumables store 

 

LithoTechnics, developer of Metrix, award-winning, intelligent job planning and imposition system, announced today that their Drupa lineup will feature Metrix 3.1, premiering support for "jog to foot" or "low folio lap" books. Metrix 3.1 also includes enhanced JDF binding compatibility, adding support for Muller Martini saddle-stitchers and perfect binders.

Australian and US representatives of LithoTechnics will be demonstrating Metrix in Hall 7, Stand 7.0 J, located in the Drupa Innovation Parc JDF Experience. LithoTechnics will participate in JDF interoperability demonstrations with numerous JDF Experience partners, including Dalim, Kodak, and Optimus.

Rohan Holt, President of LithoTechnics, said, "We are proud to introduce another milestone innovation in Metrix 3.1 - support for 'jog to foot' or 'low folio lap' books, completely automating the conversion to or from 'jog to head' even for complex books with flaps on pages or exotic folds." Holt continued, "Another major enhancement in Metrix 3.1, JDF export to Muller Martini stitchers and perfect binders, will provide our customers with yet another advantage in automating production, so important in today's environment of intense competition and challenging business conditions."

Markus Schluep, Muller Martini Project Manager, remarked: "The largest obstacle to full bindery JDF integration has been the lack of an 'agent' to write Job Definition Format (JDF) files that include bindery specifications for cutting, folding, saddle stitching and perfect binding. LithoTechnics' Metrix software allows printers to conquer this hurdle. The geometry that is already entered into Metrix, including trim size, laps, head trim, offsets, etc, can easily be exported as standard CIP4 JDF. These JDF job tickets can be read by our saddle stitchers and perfect binders, and save significant set up time. This process also ensures that the machine is set up to the exact dimensions that were used to paginate, proof, print, cut and fold the signatures. Redundancy in data entry is eliminated, steps in the make-ready process are reduced, and mistakes are a thing of the past. This is precisely the workflow that many bindery managers have been looking for."

Mr. Schluep concluded by saying, "LithoTechnics has allowed the binding industry to achieve a new technology milestone, and we applaud their accomplishment."
The Metrix 3.0 family includes Metrix Commercial, Metrix Max, Metrix X-8 and Metrix X-80, targeted at different segments of the commercial print market. All editions are available on Mac OS X and Windows, and all automatically plan and impose flat, folded, and bound work. All editions can import JDF and export imposed PDF. Select editions include Auto Plan, and export various forms of JDF for prepress and finishing. The entire Metrix family is available in English, German, Spanish, and French.

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The 'without-comparison' Ilford product range is now available on cielab's new print and graphic arts consumables website: consumables.com.au.

Independent colour-management specialist, cielab, has been appointed as agent for the Ilford inkjet product range.

Cielab MD Michael Rooney says, "Ilford is one of the best quality products in the world with regard to water-based inkjet printing. They are particular about who they allow to sell their brand, because it must be supported properly.

"So it's very exciting for us to have been appointed the agents for Ilford and Omnijet, which is the economy Ilford range. Omnijet products generally compare in price with some of the cheaper Asian or unbranded products, but the quality is far superior.

"It was one of those matches made in heaven," Michael says, "cielab aligns very well with Ilford because we have very much the same business ethic. We both want to over-service and deliver more than expected."

Ilford discounts available online   
Michael says being able to order Ilford products online will be a huge benefit for customers.

"Many in the industry have a strong liking for the Ilford range," he says, "but because it hasn't been very heavily promoted for a while, they haven't known where they could get it from. Now they will not only have easy access to Ilford, they will also be able to purchase online and take advantage of the discounts available at our online consumables store."

And on consumables, Michael says  the price businesses pay for their consumables shouldn't depend on how well they can negotiate with the rep!

"At consumables.com.au, our prices are competitive and clearly listed. On top of that, we offer volume discounts, so if you buy five rolls of something you get a good price, but if you buy 10 rolls, you get an even better price. Or you can just buy one - whatever suits you. 

"Our security is unique, with 128-bit encryption," Michael adds, "and it all happens live online." 

Regional and rural businesses have already found the site an advantage. They simply log on, order what they need, the price is worked out instantly, and their order is delivered within a few days. A freight calculator shows instantly what the cost of delivery will be, so the total cost is known before an order is confirmed.

Delivery depends on location, but averages around five days, or two-three days for the east coast.  Delivery ETA notifications can be tracked for all orders both online and via email.