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Managing proof approvals
MetaCommunications (Iowa City, IA) workflow software manages the approvals of digital proofs in creative production environments. It supports Adobe Acrobat, KPG RealTime Image and Microsoft SharePoint. See
Circle 171 or visit freeproductinfo.net/ap.

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Digital spot color printer
Nipson’s (Elk Grove Village, IL) new monochrome VaryPress 400 can be integrated with a standard web press to add spot colors and variable data. (It was shown inline with a Müller Martini Concepta press.) The VaryPress 400 and 200 were first introduced at Drupa 2004. The 400 model runs at up to 410 fpm; the 200 at 230 fpm.

Both feature 600-dpi print resolution and Nipson’s technology combination of magnetographic imaging and cold flash toner fusing. This reportedly produces offset-quality output at full rated speed on stocks ranging from light to heavyweight papers, synthetics, foils, labels, carbonless materials and more. See www.nipson.com.
Circle 174 or visit freeproductinfo.net/ap.

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Strip or spot check spectrophotometer
X-Rite’s DTP45 automated spectrophotometer calculates color by strip or spot measurement. Based on the DTP41 model, it measures test strips in 20 seconds. The DTP45’s spot checking facilitates applications such as large-format media and uncommon color patterns.

It is part of the X-Rite Color Ensembles Plus package, which includes advanced profiling software. Prices start at $4,500. See www.xrite.com.
Circle 173 or visit freeproductinfo.net/ap.

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JDF-based imposition
Dynagram’s(Quebec, Canada) DynaStrip JDF-based imposition software’s object-oriented architecture enables complete customization and control of imposition layouts. DynaStrip accepts PDF, PostScript, EPS and DCS files from over 100 applications and can output to virtually any output device. See www.dynagram.com.
Circle 172 or visit freeproductinfo.net/ap.

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File transfer software upgrade
WAM!NET (Bloomington, MN), a division of Savvis Communications, announced its Transmission Director X (TDX) v1.2 is available for use with Direct! and Direct!IP services. It operates in Windows XP and 2000 as well as Mac OS 10.3X operating systems. Enhancements in the new version include improved transfer rates, a Unified Service Login Model, and http and FTP support for WAM!NET’s Transport API. See www.wamnet.com.
Circle 175 or visit freeproductinfo.net/ap.

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CTP workflow solution
Compose System (Hong Kong) will market Lucid’s I-Trap solution and offer it as a new optional module fully integrated with Express WorkFlow, Compose System’s prepress workflow. Compose will market I-Trap under its own ExpressTrap brand name. ExpressTrap is a raster-based solution that offers both automated in-RIP and interactive trapping in a single package. See www.compose.com.hk.
Circle 176 or visit freeproductinfo.net/ap.

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High-speed monochrome printers
Canon U.S.A. (Lake Success, NY) introduces the imageRUNNER Pro 125 VP and imageRUNNER Pro 150VP. The 125- and 150-ppm black-and-white printers offer 600 dpi resolution. The 150 VP comes standard with six paper drawers to support up to 8,000 sheets. The 125 VP comes standard with three paper drawers to support up to 4,000 sheets. Standard configuration for both imageRUNNER models consist of the marking engine, a measured stitch finisher for stapling and the controller that handles fast processing speeds and complex variable data jobs. See www.usa.canon.com.
Circle 177 or visit freeproductinfo.net/ap.

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Ship envelopes immediately after printing
Halm’s (Elk Grove Village, IL) Halm Jet EM5315 prints four-over-one. The four-color-process perfector has a rated speed of 30,000 envelopes per hour. An integrated cold UV system is standard. Users can ship envelopes as soon as they are printed. See www.halm.com.
Circle 187 or visit freeproductinfo.net/ap.

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Imposition for those in transition
Ultimate’s (Quebec, Canada) Impostrip On-Demand targets small shops making the transition from imposing files with QuarkXPress, limited plug-in solutions or manual stripping. It imposes EPS, PS, PDF and TIFF files with no font limitation, and works in hot-folder or hands-on mode. Ultimate has also launched v7.1 of Impostrip with JDF support. See www.imposition.com.
Circle 178 or visit freeproductinfo.net/ap.

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UV inks for coldset web printing
Flint Ink’s (Ann Arbor, MI) Arrowlith UV inks enable commercial coldset web printers to print on coated and supercalendered stocks. Arrowlith UV inks are formulated with the company’s photoinitiator chemistries for faster cure speeds and durability, and their high solids content reportedly reduces pressroom VOCs. See www.flintink.com.
Circle 179 or visit freeproductinfo.net/ap.

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Inert UV for sheetfed presses
Eltosch (Brookfield, WI), in cooperation with the Printing Industry Institute of Saxony (Leipzig, Germany), has developed an inert UV system for sheetfed presses. Inerting refers to a process where ambient air and oxygen are replaced with nitrogren. Advantages of inert UV systems include:

• Excellent curing of UV ink and varnish.
• Potential savings in expensive photoinitiator.
• Elimination or considerable reduction in typical UV odor.
• Reduced UV energy requirements.
• A low substrate temperature flexibility and new substrate applications.

See www.eltosch.com.
Circle 180 or visit freeproductinfo.net/ap.

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Material handling solutions
Advanced Manipulator Specialists (Hoffman, MN) offers the Ulti-Balance/100 shaft puller. Sens-a-Load technology enables the pneumatic-electronic manipulator/ balancer to raise or lower 1 to 100 lbs. with 3 to 5 lbs. of pressure by the operator. The shaft pullers can handle up to 350-lb. shafts.

Ulti-Balances’ quick-clamp mechanism grasps the roll shaft, suspends the weight of the shaft within the core, and allows the operator to easily draw the shaft out of the roll. The shaft pullers can be mounted to the floor, a portable base, or overhead. See www.advancedmanipulator.com.
Circle 181 or visit freeproductinfo.net/ap.

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Create dummies prior to contract proofing
Serendipity Software’s (Melbourne, Australia) Blackmagic v3.0’s deimpose/duplex module lets users create quickly a working print dummy prior to generating contract proofs or imaging plates. The software helps users identify wrong folios, problematic split-page alignments and bad bleeds. Problems such as missing fonts and images, text reflow or incorrectly placed ads can be identified quickly. Any double-sided PostScript printer can be used to create color or black-and-white dummies. See www.serendipity-software.com.au.
Circle 182 or visit freeproductinfo.net/ap.

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File sharing between Mac OS X and Windows
Group Logic’s (Arlington, VA) ExtremeZ-IP file server facilitates file sharing between Mac OS X and Windows. It is reportedly the only AppleShare file server currently available that fully integrates Mac OS X and 9 with Windows 2003/2000 server versions as well as Windows 2003 storage server and Windows XP professional. See www.grouplogic.com.
Circle 183 or visit freeproductinfo.net/ap.

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Same solution for hybrid and conventional jobs
FloClear’s (Plano, TX) fountain solution cleaning system is designed to reduce waste and troubleshooting. It continuously filters the solution, extending its life. According to FloClear, users no longer have to dump or change fountain solution when switching between hybrid and conventional inks. See www.floclear.com.
Circle 184 or visit freeproductinfo.net/ap.

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Online access to file servers
Helios (Santa Nella, CA) WebShare server lets users access their file servers over the Internet. It provides an efficient and secure alternative to FTP, e-mail, VPN, WebDAV, etc. The WebObjects server handles Web user interface on a separate server to ensure the main WebShare File Server is protected against hackers. See www.helios.de.
Circle 185 or visit freeproductinfo.net/ap.

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Better baler security
OnePlus (Northbrook,IL) offers the Baler Boss monitor control system for new or existing horizontal or vertical balers. Users can be added or locked out easily. Setting up a predetermined number of bales will trigger an automatic request for pickup, a message that can be sent to the hauler/recycler’s PC or fax machine. See www.oneplus.com.
Circle 186 or visit freeproductinfo.net/ap.

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Exanet’s storage solution cleans up desktop clutter
Graphic arts house Stark Digital (Pforzheim, Germany) needed a system to manage its workflow of more than 10,000 pages per week in all file formats and on a network-wide basis. Storing large files onto hard disks saved time but decreased reliability and redundancy for overall job efficiency. The company now concentrates on production of digital plates both for internal use and for outside printers using Exanet’s ExaStore solution as a production and file system server.

"We chose ExaStore to replace our storage islands and create a single storage solution working in a heterogeneous network for our Artcom and the RIPs," says Jörg Weippert, Stark’s technical director. "Operators work directly within ExaStore instead of saving files locally, while all RIPs receive their data directly to produce the plates."

Michael Chazot, Exanet’s vice president of sales, says, "ExaStore is the only data storage solution designed to meet the needs of the graphic-arts industry. The system supports Apple, Windows, Unix, and Linux and provides the standard file system APIs (NFS, CIFS and AFP) to applications."

Weippert adds, "One hundred percent uptime is crucial for Stark’s business continuity and will be even more crucial in the future as we plan to expand very heavily. We chose ExaStore because of its high availability and reliability, management capabilities, native AFP, load balancing and high performance to ensure our business continuity. As our storage needs increase, ExaStore’s scalable architecture will allow us to add servers and RAID arrays without any planned or unplanned downtime.

"After a short period, the investment will reach its ROI by delivering more security, reliability, and performance," Weippert continues. "The system’s ability to flexibly scale to any dimension using hardware components with the best price and performance will continue to reduce costs."

Distributed worldwide in the graphic arts industry by Kodak Polychrome Graphics, ExaStore is used in publishing plants across the United States, including AGT (New York), Mercury Print Productions (Rochester, NY), Wild Apple Graphics (Woodstock, VT), c3 PreMedia Solutions (Dallas and Minneapolis), Motheral Printing (Fort Worth), Graphics Press (Los Angeles) and Image Options (Foothill Ranch, CA). See www.exanet.com.

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Part 1 | Part 2

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