April 15, 2002 -- The Prism Group of Companies, represented by Prism Europe, will be showing a number of new and enhanced products at this years IPEX, all of which can be combined to help solve the integration puzzle. Prism believe that the three core elements of its business – production control via QTMS and GEM; management information via WIN and Enterprise; and the integrated solutions offered by both its own and third party tools – can be combined seamlessly, and in any order, to help today’s printer solve his biggest puzzles. "Whilst a management information system should be the core of the printers computerised tools, too many solutions just stop at that point," said David Dunbavand, General Manager of Prism Europe. "Prism extends the possibilities beyond a basic information system – integrating data from the shop floor via QTMS or GEM – which enables the printer to understand how his estimates have worked out in reality. For some printers integrating an e-commerce solution might be a valuable add-on whilst for others the ScenicSoft JDF links to imposition integration might be the most significant factor. With Prism printers have the choice to solve their particular puzzle!" IPEX will represent the first major international showing of the GEM product. GEM has been specifically developed to provide one all encompassing production monitoring solution – which is particularly beneficial for companies utilising a variety of manufacturers products. The system will work with sheet-fed presses, folders, guillotines, labelling machines and even pre-press applications. The GEM system is able to track jobs on machines in real time. Both operators and managers are able to see exactly how the job is performing against plan and can use this information to make decisions, ensuring that the best possible results are obtained. GEM is able to measure all critical areas of machine performance including make-ready, waste, downtime and good production. GEM now also includes an electronic job bag facility to allow for accurate visibility of job details on the shopfloor at any time. With regard to integrated solutions, both Prism WIN and Prism Enterprise MIS products will be shown with a JDF interface to ScenicSoft's Upfront imposition software. This allows print job specifications already present in the MIS system Quote record to be simply and accurately passed to pre-press. "This is an exciting departure for an MIS supplier, yet a logical one," said David Dunbavand, General Manager of Prism Europe. "The imposition software - especially in sectors such as print and packaging - can play a critical role in the economics of production. It is therefore a huge benefit to many printers to have that information directly integrated within the MIS package. The marriage between imposition and MIS has been developed using JDF (Job Definition Format) – the emerging industry standard – which is likely to be one of the hot topics at the show. Prism, however, were the first company to show links with ScenicSoft at this year’s MIS exhibition in Birmingham. The latest version of Prism WIN – version 18 – will be exhibited at the show. The update incorporates a number of enhancements, including database independence, which will allow the system to interface with Oracle, and, in the near future, SQL. Prism’s e-Service Desk is also being shown in a new and improved version, with enhancements being made to both Request for Quotation and Order Tracking elements. The introduction of user-friendly "Wizard’s" will make both easier to use, and will aid in the collection of all required information. The company will also demonstrate its latest Apple Mac client for Prism WIN – VTM2 – which, like Prism’s other clients, is browser based. Enhancements include a new improved user interface, which will allow for better pre-press data collection – an important area of use for the Mac based cleint. About Prism Prism is one of the world's leading suppliers of integrated MC3 (MIS+) software and machine monitoring equipment for the printing and packaging industry, with 125 employees and 8 offices in the UK, USA, Australia and New Zealand, and worldwide headquarters in London, England. Prism’s flagship products are the Prism WIN and Prism Enterprise management information system softwares and the QTMS range of machine monitoring equipment. The group has over 2,700 client sites in 15 countries.