Why the interest in technology as far as printing and packaging is concerned?  Was there a gap in the SA market for this type of technology?

While working at Ultra Litho for just over 4 years, I was fortunate enough to be exposed some of the latest trends in regards to technology in the printing industry. Having had the pleasure and experience of managing the implementation of a world class MIS package, Hiflex, I quickly realised the problems so many printers are faced with today, as I experienced these problems first hand, some of the problems are internal and external skill sets, “old school” and resistance to change. The industry is facing, or shall I rather say in the early stages of a technology upswing, one of my favorite expressions is that the print industry is heading into the dot com boom, although a few years behind most production industries, they finally catching up.

The main reason I started my own venture is to provide the graphics-art and print industries with a almost one stop information and service provider. Someone that can assist the organisation not only with standard IT related problems such as user desktop support but also more in-depth workflow analysis and process automation, after all a printer who is not automated by the year 2010 will not benefit from the enormous financial benefits the soccer world cup will have to offer.

Printers world wide is moving towards production process automation but yet South African printers think it is a myth and can not add value to their business, what is not helping is some of the suppliers do not even understand this concept.

So that is why Exell Technologies together with Printing Questions was established.

Printing Questions is a web portal dedicated to the graphics-art and print industry of South Africa, not only doe sit cater for the business but also the user and supplier.

- You say you are the only genuine locally based company with ties to the International Cooperation for the Integration of Processes in Prepress, Press and Postpress (CPI4).  What advantages does this have for your clients?

This gives me a support base and information at my finger tips, by becoming a member I now have thousands of developers, support staff and managers that works with me to provide clients with real live case studies and tested solutions, these organisations gives us a vendor independent source of information.

- Is a program like CIP4’s JDF (Job Definition Format) the solution to all print shop workflow problems and if so why?

One of the biggest misconceptions in the market today is that JDF is a product, something you buy in a box and install. CIP4 and JDF is the same thing, by this I mean JDF is a standard based on XML which is controlled by CIP4. In no sense is JDF the complete solution to any printer or packing organisations answer it is merely a glue or transport method to connect multi vendor application and or systems. The concept and standard of JDF will most defiantly assist organisations out there with their production process automation but it will not provide a working solution out of the box, much work is still to be done on each site as each business is different even thought they producing the same products.

-  How does it compare with other workflow products?

As said above, JDF is not a product, there are many workflow systems out there, many call them MIS (Management Information Systems) but in-fact they actually production process control systems, providing management with valuable information on production status, planning methods and such. The future printer or print producer will need an automated workflow system in place if they want to survive pass 2016.

Another RED light that all companies must be aware of, is the fact that many companies out there will sell you a JDF system, this is not possible, their application or system might be JDF certified or enabled but there is no such thing as a JDF application. Many suppliers and vendors out there will also promise the world with the JDF connection abilities of their system but infect you will be the testing pilot for it, first find out where and how they had it tested? Good place to find out about a products JDF capability is the CIP4 organisation.

-  How successful has your workflow solution been in the South African printing and packaging market and what else are you able to offer - for instance, how are you positioned worldwide?

The only workflow solution is still in progress but as indicated earlier, the industry is facing many difficulties with internal and external skill sets, the industry is fast moving from a craftsman job to more computer based production. Computer literacy and the understanding that you can plan and run your print plant via a network is still difficult to comprehend by most print owners and even print employees.

Although completely vendor independent, Exell Technologies has a local representation agreement with Hiflex Germany, a Print specific MIS system which has won numerous international awards and also the only true JDF MIS system in the world, they have clients on almost every continent and although not the cheapest, in our opinion one of the best, which is why we opt to be associated with them.

Exell Technologies wants to stay vendor independent as our main focus is not to sell systems to our clients but to assist our clients finding the best possible solution that suits their requirements, this is also why we make sure we sty closely in touch with all the major suppliers in the industry, what works for one organisation might not work for the next competitor.

- How many companies have made the transition to a JDF/CIP4-compliant workflow process in South Africa percentage wise?

As South African printing industry does not have a clear specification/stats on this, it is difficult to say but I am positive to say that there aren’t many, I know of a few who has spend millions and still can’t get it right, the problem here is that too many companies out there do not plan and if they plan they do not stay within their project plans, the industry has too much focus on production and forget that they actually running a business, admin is always last on the printers agenda for improvement, they spend millions on upgrading the production equipment and then end up using state of the art equipment the same way they did the old equipment, although printers do play the biggest part in this mistake we also feel it is the responsibility of the suppliers not playing their role, instead of selling a solution, it becomes just another sale.

- Do you see a fully automated printing system evolving in the near future?

Most definitely, if only the owners and managers of printing plants could shift their concentration from production to business and manage their business! A major mind set change is required and the company who will follow this will be the leading printer of the future no matter how small they might be now, remember there are companies out there that has proven the automated workflow by pushing double the amount of work through half the equipment on their floors.

-  Looking ahead, what developments can be expected at Exell Technologies?

Our current strategy plans are to become the preferred if not only total solutions provider to the graphics-art and printing industry of South Africa, we want clients to be able to speak to one person who understand their needs and requirements and can provide them that service, whether it is a simple ADSL line, a new computer or a complex workflow automation project, we will be able to deliver that. We also busy growing Printing Questions into the biggest on-line information and service locator on the continent.