In the near future, the output management system printnet OM by ppi Media (a subsidiary of manroland AG) will control the prepress and plate production workflow at the Daily Herald. The growing number of commercial jobs at the print site has necessitated the introduction of a new workflow with maximum automation.

By installing printnet OM, the largest newspaper in the suburbs of Chicago will focus on integration and automation in its prepress workflow. Due to open interfaces, printnet OM can be easily integrated in the Daily Herald’s existing production workflow, which means that the new workflow will go live in the spring of 2011. Supplied with print jobs from JobEntry along with PlanPag, ppi Media’s central planning and production solution, printnet OM computes the most economical production of the printing forms. Printing times and press occupancy are, of course, taken into account, and the entire plate production process is continuously monitored. Status and error information on the individual processes is evaluated by printnet OM and any planning transgressions are displayed graphically in a dummy. For optimal utilization of the presses, printnet OM controls the imaging sequence on the basis of the printing plan of the press – first needed, first out.

“The installation of PlanPag in 2002 was a significant step towards automating the central planning and production of the Daily Herald. Now the prepress workflow will follow suit. In order to use all the advantages of printnet OM, we have decided to install ppi’s ProofStation (proof system) and ProPag (page assembly system),” says Stefanie S. Anderson, head of production at Paddock Publications, Inc. “In combination, these systems allow flexible production processes, optimum utilization of capacities and increased transparency of the production workflow.” Paddock Publications, publisher of the Daily Herald, can therefore increase its range of services for printing commercial jobs and publications for other local publishers; a strong advantage to have in a highly competitive market.