The solution will provide a fully integrated workflow covering all commercial, production and business functions. The commercial aspects include Technique’s tightly integrated, web-based, CRM, Sales Enquiries and the new “Customer Portal” applications. These tools provide highly efficient, seamless integration with the back office estimating application, considerably reducing the amount of re-keying of data and providing a fully electronic workflow from Request for Quote, Estimate, Quote, Order Confirmation and Order Entry.

Production will be run with Technique’s Order Management, Production Scheduling and Data Collection. Besides normal order administration functions, Order Management is used for the majority of job planning and allows work to be moved between both internal and external resources, as well as allowing sections to be split and combined without going back to estimating. The seamless integration with Scheduling and Data Collection and use of (XML-based) electronic job tickets eliminates the need to print paper job tickets completely and it avoids that stale information is used in production. Once a job enters a production, the status of all-scheduled-tasks and all-products-produced (including work in progress) can be tracked by staff and customers. The system shows the schedules, the quantities and the location of all pallets in real-time.

A key part of the implementation will be the connection to Agfa’s :Apogee pre-press software. Jobs, incl. all relevant production parameters such as the imposition are automatically created in :Apogee Portal and passed along to :Apogee Prepress for production. In real time, events about pages received and approved, and plates made are communicated back the Schedule. This allows real-time tracking of all of the key pre-press milestones without the use of paper lists and long production meetings.

“Integrating the Technique MIS with :Apogee shows that JDF integration really works”, says Bart De Pelsmaeker, Director of the Software Group at Agfa Graphics, “the customer has evident benefits from it, like a further standardization of jobs that will automatically process with less effort and less cost.”

The pre-press department can see the schedule live and will know in time when jobs approach press-time while not all pages have arrived, and approvals or plates are still missing. Any imminent problems can be seen well in advance allowing either immediate action to be taken to resolve the problem, or a change in the running order on press to be applied based on which jobs have met all the key milestones.

“Communication is probably one of the most important issues to handle in our industry,” says Bart Bongaerts, Joint Managing Director of GGB, “now that we can integrate our :Apogee system from Agfa with the Technique solution, we will automate the process for sure, but first of all we expect to be working more efficiently at the end.”

Much of the business data will be produced from Technique’s data collection systems, which will be installed on all presses, and the real-time inventory control that links the reel stand at the press to the inventory control system. As rolls are consumed, the inventory is updated immediately. Analysis tools include the comprehensive suite of standard reports as well as Technique’s new “Business Intelligence” module. This module ships with a library of reports. The data underlying data sets allow simple modification of existing reports or creation of new reports. All reports are available via a web browser and subscriptions can be created for any report, permitting any report to be delivered via e-mail (in a variety of formats) at any desired date and time. This proactive report generation method, means data is delivered in a timely manner and without interaction from the user.

“We are extremely pleased to have been selected by GGB to provide solutions to their well respected company. We fully hope to capitalise on the Agfa partnership with GGB’s current :Apogee products to deliver amazing levels of business automation.” Paul Cooper, CEO of Technique

About Technique Group
Technique was established in 1995 and today is a leading provider of Management Information Systems to the Graphic Arts industries worldwide.
Technique has a significant advantage as its products have been developed in conjunction with end users in prominent printing companies and now offers many innovative, modular solutions.
The use of modern technologies, intuitive interface and the significant knowledge and experience of the implementation teams allows Technique to deliver best practice value and benefit to its customers.

About Agfa
The Agfa-Gevaert Group is one of the world’s leading companies in imaging and information technology. Agfa develops, manufactures and markets analogue and digital systems for the printing industry (Agfa Graphics), for the healthcare sector (Agfa Healthcare), and for specific industrial applications (Agfa Materials).
Agfa is headquartered in Mortsel, Belgium. The company is present in 40 countries and has agents in another 100 countries around the globe. The Agfa-Gevaert Group achieved a turnover of 3,283 million euros in 2007.

About Agfa Graphics
Agfa Graphics offers integrated pre-print solutions for the printing industry. These solutions include material consumption, hardware, software, and services for production workflow, design and color management. The Company’s CtP, CtF and digital proofing systems have positioned it as worldwide leader in the commercial printing and packaging industries as well as newspaper publishing markets.
Agfa Graphics is rapidly expanding its offer of products and solutions on the growing digital inkjet market. Its experience in both image technology and emulsions has provided the knowledge necessary to make high-quality systems for UV and solvent-based inks. Partnerships with industry leaders in development and manufacture have expanded the scope of its technology and permitted the company to develop comprehensive digital solutions for printing posters, banners, signs, displays, labels and packaging materials.
Product and company information can be found on Agfa’s home page on the World Wide Web at: www.agfa.com.