MAN Roland’s path to becoming a networked printing company August 27, 2002 -- Today’s printing industry needs not only high-performance presses, but perfectly harmonized processes – the ideal way to achieve higher job output and efficient streamlining. And comprehensive networking does just that. MAN Roland, the world’s second-largest manufacturer of printing systems and the world’s leader in web press offset systems, supplies the necessary software with PrintNet, PECOM, and Optimus.   MAN Roland overcomes the weaknesses of island solutions with PrintNet, the software suite for printing companies that offers open, holistic solutions. The objective is to achieve uninterrupted processing of all the steps in a job, from initial order acceptance, computer-aided product and production description, production planning, all the way to printing and finishing. To provide these kinds of solutions, in January 2002 MAN Roland acquired a majority interest in ppi Media GmbH, a software development company of Hamburg, and is now strengthening the software company Optimus with a new partner. Optimus Deutschland, a contractual partner of Optichrome Computer Systems Ltd. of Woking, Great Britain, develops business and management systems for printing companies. The company, until now a wholly-owned subsidiary of MAN Roland, was acquired by a friendly software company on August 1, 2002, in the course of deconcentration measures aimed at improving organizational structures. The company will continue to operate under the same name and in the same facilities in Offenbach under the guidance of the new owner and managing director Jürgen Handrack and with a larger staff. Wolfgang Engel and Ullrich Behrendt, former managing directors as well as management staff of MAN Roland, are providing support during the transition. With PrintNet and PECOM, MAN Roland is focusing on the technical side of optimizing and streamlining the printing process. PECOM, MAN Roland’s own networking product, links presses with the press room, prepress, and management. PECOM’s ManagementLink is the link to the business planning functions of Optimus 2020 (precalculation, job paper creation, materials management, job and production planning, cost recording, historical costing, and cost analysis). The Optimus 2020 software modules, which optimize the business and management processes in printing companies, are an integral part of the MAN Roland product range and take full advantage of the synergies achieved by the ppi and PECOM link. And thanks to MAN Roland’s open system architecture, customers can even use all the modules of other manufacturers that are compatible with JDF (Job Definition Format). JDF is an Internet-compatible data format for exchanging information common to the graphic arts industry. JDF makes it possible to seamlessly integrate and utilize all computer-aided processes, regardless of manufacturer, and was jointly developed by leading companies in the industry.