Frontline’s Integration Specialist, Elton McAleer, has received accreditation as a partner of Fogra, providing onsite support for certification of Process Standard Offset (PSO), the global benchmark for printing to ISO 12647-2 standards.
As global print buyers begin to demand process standardisation from printers, the need to implement ISO compliant and ultimately certified production is rapidly becoming a priority for New Zealand printers.
Printing Industries, the LIA and 3DAP in Australia have all announced their intentions to adopt the 12647-2 standards, a move welcomed by many New Zealand printers, some of whom have already implemented an ISO compliant workflow.
The process of implementing a standardised workflow and gaining PSO certification requires good management and commitment from printers, but the rewards can be attractive, as Elton McAleer explains: "Our customers are finding that once we have helped them implement process controls, the pre-press, platemaking and presses all deliver a higher quality, more predictable and consistent result that meets the demands of the ISO specification.
"With certified proofing, characterised plates and a standardised press, the printers are now able to run 'to the numbers' and match the proof with ease in less makeready time.
"With the aid of tools like GMG Print control and RapidCheck, the printer is able to monitor their output closely, ensuring they remain within the tolerances of the standard."
As the only official New Zealand-based Partner of Fogra, Frontline's McAleer is authorised to facilitate the testing procedure that a company is required to undertake in order to implement PSO. Upon analysis of the results by Fogra and BVDM in Europe, successful companies are awarded PSO certification.
As an established solutions provider to the design, prepress and print markets in New Zealand, Frontline see process control as a vital part of any successful workflow.
"ISO standardisation has been a buzz-word in our industry for some time now," says Craig Gemmell, operations manager of Frontline, "and we are confident that with our inhouse expertise, ISO certified product portfolio and unique status as a Partner of Fogra we can provide our customers with a real edge over the competition."
