Steps

 

Familiarisation, company check and initial measures in the standardisation concept

 

In the first step, a general company check of your printing house will take place in addition to familiarisation. Everything from the ground up is examined carefully and suggestions for improvement are made. Detailed information about the company check can also be viewed here.

 

This also influences the individual processes. For example, your measuring devices will be analysed and coordinated with each other so that the readings are accurate across all processes. Your output devices are also checked in the pre-press area. Is my proof colour-accurate? What are all the things that are included in a colour-accurate proof? Can you simulate different colour-accurate paper types? A test form for the proof and a corresponding evaluation file will be made available. Furthermore, your software in the pre-press stage is checked. Are my colour preferences correct in the application programs? Can you create a printable PDF file? Is my monitor calibrated? Can the correct viewing conditions be found? These are just some of the many possible questions...

 

In the area of platemaking, your CtP system will be checked for its functionality and reproducibility. Here too, test forms and evaluation files will be supplied. During the expert days, we also provide you with our plate measuring device and explain its functionality and correct operation.

 

 

Training your staff in seminars, workshops & implementation of ISO 12647 / PSO

 

In the first part, your employees are trained theoretically across and beyond the entire process chain. Specialist presentations tailored specifically for your company are given. This allows you to counteract targeted weaknesses and set a training focus in the respective area.

 

In the workshops in the individual departments, all necessary steps are performed for optimal, standardised work in your company. This means that clearly defined interfaces can be determined, and all employees have their own tasks and areas of responsibility. This therefore improves communication between the individual departments, skills are increased, and the error rate is minimised at the same time.

 

In the pre-press stage, employees learn how to work with ICC profiles, amongst other things. The production of colour-accurate proofs is taught, as is the simulation of other paper types.

 

In the production of print forms, in addition to the output of printing plates, employees work on and establish the printing characteristics on the RIP of your CtP system for the respective printing conditions. You choose the printing conditions yourselves – you are welcome to choose multiple conditions. We work with you to create a characteristic which ensures a standardised print-out of your printed products in accordance with ISO 12647 / offset printing process standard.

 

In the print room, the print tests are carried out on the desired paper types. On the basis of the print-outs, the characteristics can be adapted to the RIP. In addition, your employed offset printer will be trained in the correct measurement of your printed products. Here, we place great emphasis on ensuring that your employees know how to correctly measure colour locations and tone values and, if necessary, to counteract and improve them. Interventions are also made in the influences of the drying of printing inks on the respective substrates.

 

For all relevant processes, you will receive the appropriate test forms and specially developed evaluation files. Of course, these are explained thoroughly based on the mentioned practical examples, so that you can apply them in daily practice. This allows you to quickly and easily apply the standardisation concept daily in practice.

 

For the first two steps, 2 – 3 expert days should be planned. We will even come to your printing house on Saturdays for no extra charge, so that there is as little disruption as possible to the production flow.

 

 

Certification under ISO 12647 / Offset printing process standard or Premium PSO

 

Once your printing house is well established, the employees have the know-how and you understand and can implement the entire standardisation concept, there is nothing more in the way of the certification test. You can see the exact procedure of the test in accordance with PSO or Premium PSO here. The certificate validity period is initially fixed at 18 months. After one and a half years, the complete certification is repeated and extended by another 18 months if this is passed.

 

One expert day is estimated for this. If the test, especially the entire second audit, is completed faster, the rest of the time can be used freely on your part. Just suggest a topic for us to assess.

 

 

Regular inspection of your standards

 

In addition to the recertification after 18 months, an interim test of your standardised prints will take place on site at your printing house. This happens after 9 or 27 months. This means that flawless printed products can be demonstrated at regular intervals in all four seasons. It is not necessary to print an entire print run in the interim test; just proof of the prescribed tolerances of the PSO (reduced tolerances for the Premium PSO) in an OK sheet will suffice. In addition, alongside the regular checks with print quality, you can prove the standardisation concept by means of test forms, evaluation files and suggestions for improvement every day in practice.

 

Half an expert day is calculated for each interim test. The other half of the day is freely available to you. It can be used for the implementation of new characteristics (e.g. NP screening), for example.