Print-Tech, Inc. Company Spotlight
Business Type
Print-Tech is a commercial printer. Clients provide jobs in PDF or native documents from PC or Macintosh using InDesign, Quark, PageMaker, Illustrator, Corel Draw, Freehand, Publisher, Word and more.
System Configuration
RIP: Xenith Extreme
Output devices: Fuji Saber VX-6000;
Xerox DocuColor; DocuTech
Proofers: Epson 9600; Fuji PictroProof
Press: Heidelberg SM74
Imposition: Dynagram DynaStrip
Interview with Owner BJ Kramer, Prepress Manager Brian Drewry, and MIS Manager Brad Steven
While other printers are struggling to stay in business, tell us about your successful growth in the past four years? It all started with a conversation we had with Gary Widmayer from Xitron four or five years ago. We were talking about Print-Tech’s desire to eventually go CTP. We know the metal devices would trickle down to us
“smaller printers” at some point. Gary helped us figure out a strategy to prepare for this day.
Moving away from the RIP 50 and installing the Xitron Navigator RIP was the first step. We acquired the Mitsubishi DPX in our merger with Parkman Printing. Our experience using the DPX was a good stepping stone; it gave us some experience with CTP and confirmed that metal was where we really wanted to be. We also upgraded to Xenith Extreme at this time and created a solid foundation for an all-digital workflow.
A couple of years ago we started talking about and planning to purchase a larger press. Last year we added the Fuji Saber which can image metal plates for all our press sizes.
A few months ago we added the Heidelberg SM74—our GTO was maxed out in production. In the short term we knew it would help us run our current work better and more efficiently; for the long term it sets us up for future growth. We have already extended the shift and hired another press operator.
Xitron and Xenith have been the backbone in supporting all the transitions we have made. A key to our successful growth was to establish a foundation that we could easily add to and upgrade.
What are some benefits to using Xenith?
One central place to manage prepress.
Xenith manages all jobs coming through the prepress department for the Saber, the Xerox DocuColor and DocuTech, the PictroProof and the Epson 9600. We are even passing CIP4 data to the Heidelberg press console. The user interface is very easy to use and intuitive for tracking jobs in the system. Anyone can check the status of jobs from Macintosh and Windows clients anywhere in the building.
Things run much smoother with one central place to track jobs. In the past there were separate RIPs for each device. Prepress operators were running around the building to the various RIP stations to check the
status of their jobs.
Flexibility to redirect.
Another benefit is we can run the same job for a customer on the DocuColor, then later to a press if they need to order a larger quantity.
In-RIP trapping.
With our old workflow, trapping files was very time consuming and complicated. The previous trapping solution could not handle everything and the desktop trapping was too manual. Now trapping is automatic. Even the special inks—like varnishes and metallics—Xenith handles very well.
Fixing problem files.
We used to open all jobs numerous times in the native applications for output and to make corrections. Xenith gives us the opportunity to correct files with minor changes while staying in a PDF format. Many of our jobs never go back to the native applications once they are submitted into Xenith—saving time and avoiding re-submission errors.
We use the Enfocus PitStop embedded in Xenith to correct typos, colors and even change cropping for bleeds. We use the Xenith’s Trapping plug-in for trap modification, and the Ink Re-mapping tool to change spots to process, combine plates and even to fix the problems Microsoft Word and Publisher files.
PDFs and customers.
Many customers are emailed PDF softproofs. We are also starting to take in certified PDFs from customers who submit files from www.myorderdesk.com or by using the PDF x-1a standard.
Process control.
By putting all the jobs through Xenith, it helped us get our processes under control. And, since all jobs go through the system, all jobs are put through the highest common denominator of testing and preparation. Because of this, all jobs run more efficiently and accurately. We use Print Smith to track jobs through the plant. Our strict adherence to this policy helps us keep on track. In some areas of the plant, this job ticket is more manual than others, but we’ll be ready to implement that technology when it is ready.
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