ECO³

InkTune and PressTune are crucial elements of Agfa Graphics’ ECO³ program. In designing and creating solutions based on hardware, software and consumables, Agfa Graphics focuses on ecology, economy, and extra convenience (ECO³) to make prepress and printing operations cleaner, more cost-effective and easier to manage and maintain. The ECO³ solutions drive extra value to printing businesses.

InkTune: cost savings plus quality boosts

Building on grey component replacement (GCR) technology, InkTune dynamically substitutes CMY inks with black ink. As an intuitive software solution that is fully integrated into the prepress workflow, InkTune uses Agfa unique technology such as Dynamic Ink Limit Control and Dynamic Device Link Generation to maximize ink reduction up to 30%, while maintaining color fidelity. The reduction of ink not only has a positive cost savings impact, it also increases overall production efficiency as the drying time is reduced. Furthermore, quality levels increase as rosette structures disappear and color deviations become less visible.

“InkTune eliminates the choice between the reduction of ink, time, and drying powder on the one hand, and high-quality prints on the other hand. Customers can achieve all these benefits through the software’s built-in intelligent adjustment of ink consumption. InkTune allows them to shorten press setup times, as well as to cut costs of all print-related resources, achieving the lowest total cost of ownership on the market. It is easily set up and requires no additional investment in training or hardware,” asserts Erik Peeters, Global Marketing Manager Software Solutions at Agfa Graphics.

PressTune: a new benchmark in smart print process control

As a print production tool, PressTune drives consistency, productivity and the ability to print to exacting standards. As the required print quality standard is reached faster by means of dynamic ink density adjustment and a data-driven scoring mechanism incorporating dry-back compensation, make-ready times get reduced by up to 40% –  which in turn leads to less waste.

Through intelligent analytics capabilities applied to print and color data obtained from the press, PressTune also reports in real time across printing technologies to each stakeholder, for full transparency of the print production process. It enables issue identification and optimized press maintenance scheduling. Even more, the solution’s easy-to-read dashboard makes it simple to generate print quality reports for brand owners in packaging and commercial print and allows for remote quality assurance.

“Together, PressTune and InkTune enable significant cost savings by reducing ink use, boosting quality and accelerating your production workflow,” continues Erik Peeters. “In fact, PressTune provides InkTune with the perfect foundation to optimize ink consumption by delivering quality consistence. Both PressTune and InkTune are central to our ECO³ offering, embodying sustainable innovation that focuses on ecology, economy, and extra convenience for the customer.”

Complementary solutions in action

Imprimeries et Editions Henry, a print house in Montreuil-sur-Mer with a 120-year history, recently worked alongside consultants from Agfa Graphics to take its print processes to the next level. Already relying on an Avalon system, Azura plates and Agfa Graphics’ Apogee workflow, the firm recently installed both PressTune and InkTune.

“PressTune and InkTune have enabled us to obtain a higher consistency throughout our print runs,” says Marc Henry at Imprimeries et Editions Henry. “We have reduced our make-ready times, we use less paper and ink, and we can adapt printer calibration curves according to paper, print job or customer-specific demands. Agfa Graphics’ solutions have brought us a more convenient way of working.”

About Agfa

The Agfa-Gevaert Group is one of the world's leading companies in imaging and information technology. Agfa develops, manufactures and markets analogue and digital systems for the printing industry (Agfa Graphics), for the healthcare sector (Agfa HealthCare), and for specific industrial applications (Agfa Specialty Products). Agfa is headquartered in Mortsel, Belgium. The company is present in 40 countries and has agents in another 100 countries around the globe. The Agfa-Gevaert Group achieved a turnover of 2,443 million euros in 2017.

www.agfa.com

About Agfa Graphics

Agfa Graphics is a leading supplier to the printing industry, offering innovative and reliable solutions:

•  Commercial, newspaper and packaging printers around the globe count on us for the most extensive range of integrated solutions, from computer-to-plate systems with digital offset plates over color management and workflow optimization software to pressroom chemicals. Our sustainable innovations offer printing companies benefits in terms of ecology, economy, and extra convenience—or ECO³.

•  We supply sign & display printing companies with a range of highly productive and versatile wide-format inkjet printers and dedicated inks, in addition to workflow software, cutting machines and inkjet media.

•  Agfa Graphics develops high-performance inkjet inks & fluids for various industrial inkjet printing systems and applications, enabling industrial manufacturers to integrate print into their existing production processes.

Agfa Graphics. We Embody Print.

www.agfagraphics.com