Helix Production Workflow v2.0 offers multiple new features to increase efficiency in CRDs and print-for-pay businesses Significant enhancements in job submission, document make-ready, workflow management and large format printing support increase efficiency and improve business performance Modular and scalable structure enabling customers to specifically tailor the software for the level of functionality required
Hall 10, Stand CDEF270, 18-25 May 2010, Birmingham NEC, UK Available as a standard product that can also be easily tailored to meet the specific requirements of varied print environments, Helix PW v2.0 has a modular and scalable software structure offering options for customers to select and pay for only the level of functionality required. Designed to streamline the on-demand production printing process, add value to personalised short-run print, integrate print ordering and production, and effectively manage busy print rooms, Helix PW v2.0 incorporates multiple new features, which are summarised below: Enhanced Job Submission includes workflow authorisation, which prevents clients exceeding agreed budgets, volume limits or ordering products that are not required. The look and feel of the new submission screens offers greater flexibility and variety, and more advanced pre-flighting to quickly identify and resolve potential quality issues. Variable Data Printing (VDP) document design (including PPML support) and page previews have become more intuitive, offering quicker, easier and more accurate soft proofing. Enhanced Document Make-Ready capabilities include support for scanning with image manipulation and editing to enable hard copy content to be converted into high-quality digital documents which can be combined with existing digital content. Advanced imposition templates support a wider range of document types and off-line finishing processes and improved tab handling enables more complex work to be quickly compiled, formatted and sent to print. Enhanced Workflow Management offers support for multi-level cost centres to provide accurate budgetary control – an essential requirement for CRDs in certain vertical markets, such as the legal industry. Greater print queue automation facilitates the automatic transfer of work from the network to the print room, therefore increasing print volumes and reducing the risk of errors due to operator intervention. Enhanced Support for Large Format Printing includes automatic price calculation and accounting, enabling customers to further leverage and manage their investment with Canon. Support for native documents and custom media size is also provided.
Mark Lawn, European Marketing Manager, Professional Print, Canon Europe, comments: “In line with Canon’s philosophy to product development, version 2 of Helix Production Workflow has been enhanced in response to customer needs identified in the Canon sponsored survey of the CRD market - Corporate Reprographics: Trends and Opportunities. It was clear from the report that many CRDs were either missing opportunities to offer their internal customers new value-added services or to handle higher volumes and more complex jobs by increasing efficiency through greater workflow automation. “Reiterating our commitment to the professional print market,” continues Lawn, “Canon has therefore developed version 2 of Helix Production Workflow to help CRDs to better satisfy their customers’ requirements and to further support organisations in increasing the business performance of their CRDs, while also increasing support for growth applications, such as web-to-print and VDP. Combining job submission, make ready and device management in one package for complete web-to-print and workflow management, Helix Production Workflow simplifies administration and operation by increasing automation and provides the ideal solution for in-house print management across both office and CRD environments.”
Helix Production Workflow v2.0 will be shown on the Canon stand at Ipex 2010 within the CRD zone as part of the variable data, web-to-print and production workflow demonstrations, linked to imagePROGRAF (large format), imageRUNNER and imagePRESS devices.
Available to order at Ipex, Helix Production Workflow v2.0 is scheduled to start shipping in Q3 2010.
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