By Tony Curcio
Today it’s a given that seamless, customized workflow integration across a print shop’s entire business is essential for long-term success. This is true in prepress departments, long recognized as traditional “bottlenecks” in production environments due to the variety and complexity of incoming files that must be processed properly.
So it was no surprise when Seattle, WA’s SuperGraphics made automation a priority in 2021, while still recovering from COVID-19. With production volumes at new lows, the time was ideal for identifying inefficiencies and developing new processes to improve in-shop workflow. Its latest workflow software investment, led by Significans Automation, is proving to be the most crucial and rewarding modernization effort in its history.
Numbers that Speak for Themselves
So far, the results have been nothing short of phenomenal. SuperGraphics’ highly refined workflows from Significans Automation have yielded a 500 to 700 percent improvement in prepress workflow. These savings have translated into fewer prepress hours, lower operating costs, and enthusiastic feedback from a rejuvenated prepress staff.
These numbers are not that surprising to Significans Automation’s clients across North America, who have reported such improvements as a 30 percent increase in yearly printing capacity, several hours of labor reduced to a few minutes, job preparation times reduced from eight hours to five minutes, prepress productivity increased from ten to over 50 jobs a day, and labor costs cut by over 50 percent.
The Turning Point
Founded in 1990 to service the fleet, event, and architectural industries, SuperGraphics was acquired in 2018 by print industry veteran Reid Baker and three partners, after recognizing an opportunity with a “distressed but not failing” company. In 2018, SuperGraphics was not participating in the automation revolution, with everything done manually. So Baker’s team focused on building sales, upgrading its equipment, and making key investments in digital presses and finishing equipment.
“We signed up with Significans Automation in the first quarter of 2021,” recalls Baker, “and acquired Enfocus PitStop with Switch for preflighting and automated layout and nesting software from Tilia Labs. That was our go-forward platform for prepress. The consistency that automated files produce is remarkable. Significans gave us the opportunity to drive improvements throughout our entire business.”
Modernize or Die
When asked about return on investment, Baker estimates that his six-figure spend on automation will be financially recouped by the third quarter of 2023. “To me, you’re either modernizing or you’re dying,” insists Baker. “Now, we can be more competitive with future proposals and other pricing because we know that our prepress time has been reduced to just minutes—and we’re no longer losing precious time, money, or clients due to manual errors.”
For an assessment of your workflow automation needs, call 877-463-4465 or visit significans.com.
May2023, Digital Output
