Newspaper & Magazines

of JDF. Prime is faster in development and
implementation. Whether this will pay off in
the long run is another question.”
Nine interfaces
In Prime’s workflow model so far nine interfaces
have been defined with the Prime
Label. These basically concern the data
transfer from layout and make ready out of
the publishing system to the press penal and
then forwarding this to pre setting and controlling
of the press at the one hand and the
paper supply on the other hand. Furthermore,
data transmission from production management
to mail room planning and controlling
systems as well as the connection between
press and mail room are integrated. To date
interfaces tracking production from prepress,
press and mail room on the production
management system have been developed.
Challenge of achieving
Why are many Prime members not also CIP4
members? Dr. Frank Lindemann of PPI Media
and chair of the CIP4 newspaper division
has this to say. “The newspaper industry has
technological advantage in comparison to general
commercial print as workflow has been
automated for a much longer time, admittedly,
however, based on proprietary interfaces.
In the 1990s, large publishing houses started
converting to digital workflows. The primary
motivation was timeliness of content. Many
Prime members have been in the business
a long time and install adequate proprietary
interfaces at their customers. Those suppliers
saw no reason to take a closer look at
JDF as their automation was already highly
advanced.”
The Prime concept focuses on classic newspaper
production workflow. Interface definition
remains limited to the unique technical
processes for periodical production within a
more or less rigid time schedule. To date, total
process management combining production
with commercial software for pre-calculation
has not been an issue. Lindemann
confirms, however, that newspapers are now
re-evaluating processes. “A change is starting
to show. Newspaper presses are being
more often used to fulfill general commercial
orders. Publishers with in-house print facilities
are restructuring these as profit centres,
or are moving to a complete outsource model.
Many newspaper printers must now fill
available capacity with commercial print orders.
As the achievable print quality of newspaper
presses approaches that of commer-
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cial roll feed (especially with the development
of hybrid systems with integrated drying
units and allowing for use of coated papers)
this trend will continue.” He adds. “Entering
the general commercial market requires a
workflow integrating order entry and calculation,
linked to a Management Information
System (MIS). This is the only way to achieve
cost transparency and remain competitive in
a market driven by billable hourly rate and
detailed job pricing. Today only one standard
can provide this – and that is JDF.”
Prime part of CIP4?
It is understandable that suppliers in the
newspaper industry prefer to work with proven
interfaces on the road to standardization
and that additional development is driven
from their own interest groups.
Nevertheless, in the interest of achieving
transparency and true standards the focus
must be on establishing a single common
uniform format. Everything points towards
JDF as the best option as it provides the most
comprehensive workflow integration.
An apparent convergence between Prime
and CIP4 appears to be underway. It is obvious
that CIP4 is working hard on the JDF description
for newspaper production.