PRESS RELEASE

21 November 2003

New Barcode Reader for Digital Print Finishing unveiled at Digital Print World

At Digital Print World, Watkiss Automation are exhibiting the Document Finishing System (DFS) with a new Barcode Reader option for the first time. This will be demonstrated both on the Watkiss stand and in the Digital Print Shop, where the DFS will be producing customised booklets for exhibition visitors.

The Watkiss DFS is the perfect solution for digital printers who need a fast and flexible finishing system to cope with the specific and varied demands of a digital demand. It is a nearline multi-function finisher for users of high speed electronic copying, printing and publishing systems.

The DFS takes pre-collated sheets directly from the printer and automatically processes them into high quality booklets. If required, additional sheets from other print sources can be inserted; including offset printed covers on glossy or laminated stocks.

The DFS can have from 3 to 8 feeders. This means it can also be used as a standard collator/finisher, to finish batch printed sets from digital or offset presses. Since many printers will have both digital and litho print capability, this offers clear benefits in terms of flexibility and therefore cost effective utilization of equipment.

Additional features include an active anti-static ionising bar which is fitted as standard to overcome the high static charge in many digitally printed stocks; and integrated control of the entire system - sheet feeding, stitching, folding and trimming from the central colour touch-screen.

New Barcode Reader & Variable Data option

Where verifiable integrity is needed, the new barcode reader provides multi-level security verification at sheet, set and document level. It can also control the insertion of covers and multiple additional sheets for customized sets. Users can configure the system to interpret the barcode characters as required, and save the configurations in easy recall job memories.

To the user, this means that every sheet can be guaranteed accurate; and every set or document can be customized. It extends variable data beyond the printer to the finisher; with the potential for each set or document to include a different combination of additional inserted sheets.

Digital Print Shop

The Watkiss DFS will be in action in the Digital Print Shop at the exhibition. Here, visitors to the show can received customised documents that are specifically tailored to the products in which they have expressed interest at the time of registration. Three principal documents will be finished on the DFS:

The Show Map is a pre-printed A3 litho sheet. It will be personalised by adding exhibitor information relevant to the visitor. It will have a barcode on it so that the Watkiss DFS recognises it as a single sheet which requires only folding (stitching is automatically disabled).
The Partner Booklets will provide information about the companies/products providing services in the Digital Print Shop. Visitors can specify what information they would like included in their booklet. These booklets may range from 2 to 10 sheets; and all sheets will have barcode to facilitate finishing on the Watkiss DFS. The barcode will be used to verify that all sheets are present and in the correct sequence, regardless of the size of the booklet.
Personalised Show Guides - each visitor will receive a personalised show guide, detailing only those exhibitors and products in which they have expressed an interest. These booklets may range from 4 to 20 sheets; again all sheets will have a barcode to facilitate finishing. Booklets with a large number of sheets will be processed on the Watkiss SpineMaster to produce a SquareBack booklet - these have the appearance of perfect binding and transform a thick booklet into a high quality, added value item.

In addition, visitors to the exhibition are invited to bring their own files to the Digital Print Shop - these will be printed and then finished on demand.

This wide range of jobs, which will be delivered to the Watkiss DFS from the printers in a ‘mixed pile’, will demonstrate the effectiveness of using a near-line finisher with a barcode reader to convert digital print into high quality booklets.

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Press enquiries to:

Jo Watkiss
Watkiss Automation Limited
Watkiss House, Blaydon Road
Sandy, Beds. SG19 1RZ England
Tel: +44 (0)1767 682177
Fax: +44 (0)1767 691769
Email: jowatkiss@watkiss.com

Notes for editors
Watkiss Automation Ltd. is a wholly family owned and managed company which has been designing and manufacturing innovative collating equipment since 1974. Design and manufacturing facilities are located in Sandy, Bedfordshire (UK). As part of the Watkiss Group which includes printing companies, Watkiss Automation is uniquely placed to develop equipment for the Graphic Arts marketplace. The company has been the recipient of two British Design Awards and the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement. The principal product ranges, the Watkiss Vario and Watkiss DigiVAC Collating and Finishing Systems, the Watkiss BookMaster and Watkiss SpineMaster are exported to over 60 countries worldwide.