Opening New Doors

To both expand and market this capability, press makers are teaming with prepress manufacturers. Komori and Scitex took their show on the road with a computer-integrated manufacturing seminar exploring the technical and business issues related to prepress and pressroom integration.

At its Westmont, IL, Center for Excellence, MAN Roland features a fully equipped Agfa electronic prepress environment with computer-to-plate output. According to Agfa's packaging segment manager Sheila Nysko, more cooperation will be seen in the future due to integration between prepress and printing driven by CTP or data interfaces like CIP3, as well as economics. Nysko explains, "With the cost of new equipment, and printers looking to manufacturers for ways to extend buying opportunities, the creation of innovative purchasing programs that include joint leasing and bundled consumables, allied vendors can offer easier and more economical ways for package printers to invest in new technology."