EFI a world leader in customer-focused digital printing innovation, is continuing its support and integration between the new KODAK PRINERGY Workflow 6 platform and its industry-leading Fiery digital front end (DFE). With the integrated connection between Fiery and PRINERGY Workflow 6, graphic arts professionals gain increased flexibility, productivity and award-winning quality.

“The EFI Fiery DFE gives graphic arts professionals the freedom to make important choices that can drive the success of their printing operation,” said John Henze, vice president, Fiery marketing, EFI. “By integrating the Fiery DFE with PRINERGY Workflow 6, PRINERGY users can not only create a single workflow management system for offset and digital printing, but also connect to a broader range of digital printers from all leading digital printer manufacturers.”

“Developing workflow solutions that are compatible with software and hardware from industry leaders such as EFI is integral to our customers’ success,” said Jon Bracken, General Manager, Unified Workflow Solutions, Kodak. “PRINERGY Workflow 6 delivers an automated production workflow for both digital and offset environments that maximizes our customers’ return on investment.”

The PRINERGY Workflow-compatible Fiery DFE helps commercial printing businesses and in-plant graphics departments boost profitability and productivity while providing the fast turnaround and ease of use graphic arts professionals demand in today’s fast-paced, hybrid offset and digital production environments.

The Fiery DFE offers exceptionally fast speed with EFI’s proprietary HyperRIP technology, which can process files up to 40% faster. Fiery DFEs with the latest FS100 Pro system honor the true intent of the graphic designer to print transparencies, drop shadows and other effects perfectly the first time, avoiding costly reprints, delivery delays and dissatisfied print buyers.

Print professionals can also connect their digital printing operations into automated estimating, scheduling, job ticketing, accounting and other processes by integrating their Fiery DFEs with EFI’s suite of industry-leading MIS/ERP products, including EFI Pace™ and EFI Monarch™.

Many printing companies already use integrated EFI Fiery and PRINERGY Workflow operations to optimize their offset and digital operations. Indianapolis-based printing firm Priority Press – a company that also uses Pace and EFI’s Online Print Solutions web-to-print and eCommerce software – has had very positive results implementing Fiery after purchasing its second Canon digital color press.

“On our first Canon digital press, we implemented another DFE because of its ability to integrate with PRINERGY Workflow,” said Priority Press President Joe Straka. “However, Fiery can do that as well now, and we felt comfortable staying within the EFI product set to meet that need. Also, we were already running Fiery with our Epson proofers so we were familiar with its operation, workflow and capabilities.”

In the short time that his company’s Canon imagePRESS 7010 with a Fiery DFE has been operational, Straka reports that he is getting more throughput from the Fiery-powered Canon compared to the other front end. “Fiery simply is a faster solution,” Straka added. “Plus it is well supported, so our operators can be better educated and more effective.”

Fiery DFE integration with PRINERGY Workflow 6 provides a number of important features for advanced production operations including:  The flexibility to add equipment from different leading production printer manufacturers without changing workflows. Highly accurate and more-efficient media information showing current tray contents of each digital press. EFI’s Fiery Command WorkStation®, an intuitive, drag-and-drop system for late-stage queue management, job preview, make-ready and job editing. JDF-certified workflow, with automated communication of job intent data and meta-data for reduced errors and higher efficiency.

The Fiery DFE is the only DFE in the industry to achieve JDF certification for digital printing. It also supports a wide range of industry variable-data print standards and integrates with many third-party prepress solutions in addition to PRINERGY Workflow 6. Fiery integration with PRINERGY Workflow 6 is one of numerous advanced technical features that will be presented next month at the EFI Connect Users Conference, January 21-24 in Las Vegas.