Agfa Graphics demonstrated the Importance of workflow solutions designed for the wide-format sign and display market at ISA (9-11 April 2015, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Centre in Las Vegas, Nevada.)
For several years, Agfa Graphics has led the graphic arts industry with innovations in workflow. Now the company has expanded into wide-format and inkjet technologies and also brought its workflow expertise to the sign & display market. The same automation ideas and technologies that helped increase ROI and free up labor in commercial printing are working their magic inkjet printers, as well.
Both the production and business sides of the equation understand and appreciate the benefits of an automated workflow solution like Agfa Graphics’ Asanti. Both are recognising the benefits that can be attained and how customers can enhance productivity thanks to workflow automation.
‘Workflow software improves print production efficiency, offers time savings and helps printing systems to be driven to capacity, thus providing cost benefits,’ said Andy Grant, Global Head of Software, Agfa Graphics. ‘Work is getting more complex for print providers with deadlines and margins shrinking. When they realise that their colours can be both vivid and first time right, or that their time can be better managed with automated file processing, they recognise the positive impact that can have on their business.’
Agfa Graphics’ Asanti brings together various tasks such as file handling, RIPping and preflighting in a single, PDF-based workflow, each activity once run by different software solutions. Asanti becomes a complete and affordable automatic production hub for sign and display producers. Its built-in colour management is unique; it starts from the concept of printer’s production modes and is extremely easy-to-use. It guarantees consistent colour quality with minimal effort.
Asanti also integrates with Asanti StoreFront web-to-print and connects to cutting and finishing equipment. Asanti StoreFront handles incoming orders through the Asanti dashboard for time-saving, error-free job handling. Automatic price calculation based on media type and size and finishing requirements, like grommets or lamination, makes this a perfect fit for sign and display.
Commercial printers and hybrid print service providers who produce both commercial print and wide-format signs and displays, are now using the new Apogee 9, that also inherits the wide format specific features.
