2009 TLMI Technical Conference. Smart. TLMI Technical Conference

Transcription

1 2009

2 Would You Believe you can get Improved Productivity from your Pre-Press Press Department? Panel: Steve Miller Eastman Kodak Company Nicole Ross Meyers Printing Companies Michael Naughton EskoArtworks Ken Norris Labelad Richard Black All Printing Resources Moderator Rob Smithson- Trinity Graphic USA

3 Steve Miller Eastman Kodak Company Stephen Miller brings his extensive experience and expertise in packaging prepress to the TLMI Technical Conference with over 24 years in the packaging industry. He is currently a Product Manager at Eastman Kodak Company, working as part of a team providing application software and computer-to-plate solutions tailored to the packaging market. Prior to this, he was a Packaging Industry Analyst at Creo and a Pre-press Manager and Technical Manager at Color Response / Banta Digital Group.

4 Nicole Ross Meyers Printing Companies Nicole Ross is a Customer Service and Prepress Manager with The Meyers Printing Companies, Inc., in Minneapolis, MN. Meyers is an innovative, privately owned printing and converting company, specializing in everything from point of sale and promotional pieces, to brand protection and security products. Prior to joining Meyers, Nicole established and maintained a prepress department at Renaissance Mark, Inc. Midwest for 6 1/2 years. More recently she worked at Southern Graphic Systems, MN, and was also a prepress consultant for Kekas & Associates, Ltd. in Raleigh, NC. Nicole holds a B.S. in Graphic Communications from Clemson University and is currently an active member of the FTA.

5 Michael Naughton EskoArtworks Michael is technical liaison for strategic North American Corporate Accounts including demonstrations and presentations supporting key sales campaigns. He has worked in the industry as an Applications Specialist, Pre-press production artist, Art Director and Production Designer for the last 17 years. He is a graduate of the University of New Castle, Newcastle, Australia with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Graphic Design.

6 Ken Norris Labelad Ken has been in graphic arts industry for 35 years, primarily in prepress. He has worked in many roles during his career as a camera man, film stripper, photo-engraver, rubber plate maker, layout artist, inside sales, outside sales, customer service manager, prepress manager, production manager, plant manager and currently manager of graphics and digital solutions for Labelad.

7 Richard Black All Printing Resources Richard Black has been involved with the printing and publishing industry for more than 25 years and is currently the Director of Digital Solutions for All Printing Resources, focusing on customer support and product development in the areas of color management, digital proofing, workflow & CTP solutions for the Flexo Industry. Richard graduated California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Graphic Communications.

8 Workflow Questions: 1. If we have an existing analog prepress department, how difficult is it to switch to a digital workflow and what are the steps we should take to accomplish a smooth transition? 2. There are many digital options in the market, how do we distinguish which is the best investment for our business? 3. Since film is not required in digital platemaking, and approvals are typically based on PDF proofs, how do we maintain quality controls before we go to press? 4. There are numerous graphic softwares available today, what are considered to be the best files to start with and why? 5. What proofing options are available for digital process and how do we decide what best suits our needs?

9 Internalizing CTP Questions: 1. Which parts of existing analog equipment can be used and what is obsolete, for example, do I need to buy a new RIP or can I use our existing RIP in the digital process? 2. How does the space allocation for digital equipment differ from the analog footprint? What other areas should be upgraded such as ventilation, humidity and temperature control, environmental issues, etc? 3. Training is an important part of transitioning to digital, how do we initiate the process and what is the timeframe and intensity to bring an analog employee up to digital speed? Describe the learning curve. 4. What is the time difference for processing a plate from an analog workflow compared to a digital. Compare the analog steps versus digital.

10 Cost Analysis Questions: 1. At what point should you consider implementing a total digital workflow in house and what should you base your decision on, i.e. cost, convenience, efficiency? 2. Since the capital expense for setting up a digital prepress and platemaking department in house is costly, what are the other on going expenses we should we build into our budget, such as upgrades and service contracts? 3. What are the reasons to invest in an in-house digital department versus using a traditional tradeshop. 4. With the rapid growth and change in the digital label market, is it wise to invest in digital prepress workflow now or will it be redundant within 5 years?

11 Derek Case Digiflex Derek Case is the Principal of Ideation To Creation, a management consultancy he started in early 2008 to leverage his extensive work experiences with companies in the consumer product and package printing industries. Derek has been an active member of the American Flexographic Technical Association since He has also been an active member of the FTAs in Germany, Poland, and Brazil having presented technical papers in Europe and South America. Derek originally joined the DigiFlex team--as a consultant--to develop the global business plan for their inkjet digital flexo plate imaging system late in Derek has since joined DigiFlex as their Vice President of Marketing & Worldwide Business Development early in 2009.

12 Paul Lancelle Eastman Kodak Company Paul Lancelle has been employed in the printing industry for over 32 years, with almost 20 years focused on flexographic prepress applications. He is currently employed in the role of Printing Applications Specialist with Eastman Kodak-Graphics Communications Group. Prior to that, he spent over 17 years as Vice President-Technical Development with Green Bay Engraving, a prepress service provider. Paul is very involved in industry associations, having recently completed terms on the boards of directors for both FTA and FFTA. He is past Chairman of the FFTA Board of Trustees, has served as an FTA Forum Chair and was a recipient of the FTA President s Award in 2009.