TotalFlow Print Server for Sheetfed Presses

Ricoh has announced thatTotalFlow Print Server R-61/R-61A, a new printer Digital Front End, was launched globally for Ricoh Pro C9100 and Ricoh Pro C7100 series of sheetfed color presses.

TotalFlow Print Server R-61/R-61A is designed to be highly compatible with major prepress workflow software for offset printing by enabling the same user interface to be used for offset and digital workflows.

It is compatible with Prinect, developed by Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Germany), Prinergy, developed by Eastman Kodak Company (United States), EQUIOS, developed by SCREEN Graphic and Precision Solutions (Japan) and Apogee developed by Agfa Graphics N.V. (Belgium), which are global prepress workflow solutions.

In partnership with these companies, Ricoh has jointly developed the TotalFlow Print Server which utilises JDF and JMF, the industry standards for setting, communicating and reporting print job instructions. Heidelberg, Kodak and SCREEN’s renderer can be incorporated in the TotalFlow Print Server. This means that a similarly high level of image quality can be achieved for both offset and digital output.

“In today’s commercial print market, there is a need for on demand printing, allowing a fast turnaround of short run jobs and adding value to printing in general, such as personalised or variable data printing,” said Benoit Chatelard, Vice President, Production Printing, Ricoh Europe.

Improved operational flexibility

He continued: “With this new print server Ricoh helps clients to build a hybrid printing workflow to deliver work to both offset presses and Ricoh’s highly productive and high quality Ricoh Pro C series of digital colour presses. This enables improved operational efficiency and flexibility by providing a choice of offset and digital output devices which are managed from the same familiar user interface, as well as the fast turnaround of jobs on the digital presses. TotalFlow Print Server means that pre-press operators are now able to use the same powerful and familiar tools, such as imposition and colour management, in their pre-press workflow solutions, for both offset and digital output, delivering a truly hybrid workflow.”

Ricoh will also work with Heidelberg, Kodak, SCREEN and Agfa Graphics on marketing, product development, production, sales and customer support to provide added value solutions to the commercial printing market. Launch dates and availability of the supporting prepress workflow software varies by country or region.

Chatelard concluded: “As one of the pillars of its business strategy, Ricoh considers the enhancement of the commercial printing market an area of growth and will continue to invest in products and services to help print service providers boost their competitiveness in the printing industry and grow their business.”