Overseas Perspectives: Overview of Prepress Technologies in European Countries

Sheet-fed offset printing manufacturers use prepress technology

In e-commerce, printing companies in Europe are slow to develop. Some manufacturers use their own e-commerce solutions, while others use a single system. Content management is done by publishing companies, while other printers use data images and text management systems. CTP is no longer a conditional issue, but a matter of time. Printing companies that regard CTP as an important step will invest in improving workflow management. More printers are implementing color management.

The use of prepress technology varies from country to country and the main trends also differ from country to country.

About 80% of printing plates in Germany are made using CTP.

About 18% of the plates produced by UK sheetfed printers are produced using CTP.

The United Kingdom also uses the Internet and e-commerce, using digital workflows, CIP3 and direct imaging presses.

About 20% of Italian printing companies have prepress workshops and skilled staff fully equipped with modern desktop publishing systems.

The trend shows that due to low investment and existing skilled staff, printing companies are using prepress technology to increase. Many small printing companies integrate together nearby companies that are undergoing recession, and the process of obtaining prepress processing capabilities becomes easier.

Because the file format in use is a standard TIFF/IF or PDF, and due to the existing pre-launch software verification or PDF certification process, workflow automation is progressing steadily but is striving to achieve a breakthrough. CreoScitex and AGFA are the companies with the largest installed prepress equipment. Some well-known printing groups installed the CIP3 data transmission system and Manroland PECOM workflow automation system.

The situation in France is similar to that in Italy. 35% of most companies are engaged in prepress business. They also use 4x CTP.

What is surprising in Spain is that many large companies in Spain decided to continue subcontracting this business after investing heavily in India. Several companies are using digital workflows, launching software, digital photography, and file formats and text languages ​​such as PDF and XML.

The development trend of medium-sized companies is most obvious: with prepress technology, 80% have some kind of prepress equipment. Most of the almost 200 existing CTP devices in Spain are installed in medium-sized companies.

About 45% of small companies try to own a desktop publishing system and the output is mainly an imagesetter. They began to discover the advantages of CTP but still subcontracted the business to service providers. A few service providers are willing to set up a CTP production shop within the printing factories, and management will be implemented by service providers. The combination of skilled staff and optimal synergy is a smart approach.

Most printing plants in the Netherlands have some kind of prepress equipment, mainly digital prepress equipment. With desktop publishing and low equipment costs, printers are investing in this technology and personnel because they feel that this will make them more flexible and improve their corporate image.

Investing in large format image-setters and CTP systems requires close proximity to the pre-press processing capabilities of the press shop. A fully digital workflow also requires experienced operators. Not all printer manufacturers have achieved success in achieving professional prepress technical conditions. The investment needed to achieve CTP is simply too large for small operators. Small companies that lack relevant knowledge and funding are trying to share prepress technology equipment through mergers and cooperation or joint ownership. They believe that internal prepress processing is the key to digital printing. They also use remote proofing and various file formats.

Web offset printing press manufacturers use prepress technology

Almost all web printing manufacturers have prepress workshops equipped with CTP equipment. The focus now is on the printer's profile to increase color effects and use prepress technology to increase productivity. The momentum toward the development of color management is stronger than ever.

Although digital transmission (telephone lines or physical media) is growing at a rate of about 35%, the main imaging method is still a film, 25% is made by a printing manufacturer, and 35% is provided by a customer. The films used are usually positive and about 8% are negative.

In short, the CTP application situation is a 7% increase in 2000 and is currently 32%. Surprisingly, there are still about 3.2% of the plates that were recycled due to scrapping.

E-commerce is developing slowly in web offset printing manufacturers. They also use digital photography and advanced tools to generate high-resolution images.

The latest trend is to use in-unit prepress operations to control the workflow. PDF-based workflows are being used by more and more printers.

European prepress companies

GAIN conducted a survey at the end of 2002 to assess the level of activity of European prepress companies in 2002 compared to the previous year. For pre-press processing companies, 30% of the companies did not change from 2001 to 2002, but found that 62% of the company's conditions worsened, and another 8% of companies feel worse. No company feels that the conditions are good. It is very clear that prepress technology is being adopted and incorporated into the printing company's own workshop, while a few manufacturers are purchasing prepress processing services from outside.