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 October 7, 2004 - Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) and
industry software provider HIFLEX GmbH, Aachen, Germany have announced plans to cooperate closely in future
in the field of JDF integration (JDF = Job Definition Format of the CIP4 organization). Joint tests by
the companies' development departments should ensure open JDF integration at customer installations. |
"The integrated printshop means a lot more than just rationalizing individual processes. The objective
is efficient integration of the entire value added chain - and JDF technology provides the key to this",
says Jörg Bauer, Vice President Product Management Prinect. "Our JDF-compatible Prinect products
ensure open, standadized communication between the HIFLEX management information system (MIS) and the
Prinect systems in the print production stage. Prinect Solutions from Heidelberg provide customized
solutions that, because they are based on open standards, can be integrated into existing, tried-and-tested
hardware and software components at any time."
As announced by Heidelberg and HIFLEX, these two companies have already implemented a JDF networking
solution of their systems. At the GraphExpo trade show in Chicago in mid-October, the JDF integration of
the Heidelberg systems Prinect Printready System (prepress) and Prinect Data Control (press and postpress)
with the HIFLEX MIS software has been presented live for the first time. This means JDF data can be
transfered directly from the HIFLEX MIS software to the Prinect systems Data Control and Printready from
Heidelberg.
"The JDF connection to the Heidelberg Prinect systems offers our customers considerable added value,
because processes that were previously completely seperate are now being interlinked and automated,"
says Stefan Reichhart, Managing Director of HIFLEX GmbH.
HIFLEX is one of six MIS software systems worldwide from different manufacturers that Heidelberg
is using to implement customer installations based on JDF. The first joint project for Heidelberg and HIFLEX
is the Offset 5020 printshop in Salzburg, Austria. This state-of-the-art, full-service sheetfed offset
printshop is quipped with several Speedmaster CD 102 presses and has a workforce of around 60.
"We have been using the HIFLEX MIS software for over eight years now. By connecting our HIFLEX
system directly to the production data flow, as planned, we are expecting more efficient process control,
increased productivity thanks to more automation, shorter makeready times and more flexibility for job
changes at short notice," says Johann Fuchs who is responsible for the technical and organizational
management at Offset 5020. "Networking is definitely the way forward for us." |
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Heidelberger Durckmaschinen AG is a partner member and co-founder of the CIP4 organization
(successor of CIP3). HIFLEX has been a full member since January 2002. CIP4 is the International
Cooperation for the Integration of Processes in Prepress, Press and Postpress. The technological basis
for the integration of the above-mentioned areas is the Job Definition Format (JDF) from CIP4. JDF is
XML-based and builds on existing solutions such as Print Production Format (PPF) from CIP3 and the
Portable Job Ticket Format (PJTF) from Adobe. |
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HIFLEX GmbH, based in Aachen, Germany manufactures HIFLEX Print MIS software that maps and supports
all printshop buisiness processes. The HIFLEX system covers all relevant functions and tasks, including
preliminary costing, quotes and tenders, job confirmation, job folder, delivery note, invoicing, actual costing,
statistical evaluations, materials management, production planning and control, recording of operating data,
machine interfaces, mailroom management and order tracking. It also provides an e-business module and a document
management system. HIFLEX GmbH reinvests around 50% of its annual sales in research and development.
HIFLEX software is represented worldwide and availbale in 15 languages. |
With a market share of over 40 percent for sheetfed printing Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg)
is the world's leading solution provider for commercial and industrial customers in the print media industry.
Headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany, the Group's solutions focus on the whole value-added-chain for
popular format classes in the sheetfed offset and flexographic printing sectors. Besides sheetfed printing
presses this includes prepress, postpress and their associated workflow components, training and education
program of the Print Media Academy, service, spare parts, consumables and sale of used equipment.
The company also supports its customers' investment plans with financing concepts.
Heidelberg's business is based around the markets of the key OECD industrial regions, but it is also
increasingly investing in growth markets such as Asia and Eastern Europe.
14 international development and production sites and around 250 sales branches provide support to its
customers worldwide. Heidelberg generates 85 percent of its sales through its own sales companies and around
87 percent of its sales abroad. In fiscal year 2003/2004, Heidelberg achieved sales of Euro 3.114 billion
refering to the divisions Press, Postpress and Financial Services. At June 30, 2004, the Group employed
21,200 staff worldwide. |
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