Cloudflow assigns jobs to the press
Belgian label printer Accent Etiketten has implemented a new production-scheduling tool from Hybrid Software. This customised solution was developed by Hybrid to help Accent when its printing capacity began to outstrip the ability of its existing production scheduling software.
The family run business specialises in supplying self-adhesive labels to customers throughout Belgium, France and Holland. It employs more than 60 staff and operates HP Indigo WS6600 and 8000 digital presses as well as eight and 10-colour flexo presses. These are in use around the clock five days a week, and in addition to scheduling their workloads, Accent Etiketten wanted to include its cutting and packaging facilities.
Christophe Beke, quality assurance and project manager, said, ‘We had originally written our own software for scheduling jobs, which operated within the ERP environment and had performed quite adequately. However, recent investment in our press department meant that the workload demands had overtaken what our package could handle and we estimated that to rewrite it would have taken us more than a year.’
He continued, ‘We liaised closely with Hybrid Software’s specialist team of developers in order to tailor its existing production scheduling tool to our particular requirements and this cooperation enabled us to reach our current position.’
Bert Van der Perre, sales manager at Hybrid Software, was heavily involved in the project. He said, ‘In the new environment, job information is sent from Accent’s MIS system directly into Cloudflow using XML files. It can define the relevant details of each machine, providing parameters that include minimum run time, set-up time, production speed, number of print stations, time to change rolls and clean-up time. Based on the technical details of a job and its due date as described in the XML, Cloudflow checks the machine’s availability and assigns the job to the press.’
Mr Beke concluded, ‘All of our pre-press operators use Hybrid’s Packz editing software, so we already had a connection with the supplier. We implemented the package in two phases and have been using it with our digital presses and cutting equipment for about four months. This new scheduling tool helps us to remain at the forefront of technology and can be utilised with any future investment made in the pressroom.’
