The e-tandem software package, which will be fitted to its DC645 model as standard from September, was launched at Italian print trade fair Grafitalia last week.

Duplo's new software system constantly monitors the machine, feeding information back to Duplo via the internet. The company has compared the system to diagnostics in a car.

Marketing director Peter Jolly said Duplo would now be able to spot some problems before they happen.

"We can anticipate customers' calls and identify breakdown levels without needing to send somebody out.

"When planning maintenance visits, we will be able to send someone out based on how much the machine is used rather than the amount of time the user has had the machine.

"It has other benefits as well. We can do training from our HQ, and because we can see each of the jobs that are on the machine, we can help them to price jobs by feeding information back to the user," he added.

Duplo is currently beta-testing the system at Photobox in France, with two UK beta sites set to begin in the near future.

E-tandem is not retrofitable, but Jolly added that anyone buying a DC645 between now and September would be able to replace it with a DC645e once it becomes available.

Jolly added that he does not expect the e-tandem software to greatly affect the cost of the DC645.

Also see:
Duplo adds PUR binding to product range
Duplo International earns Best Company tag and calls for more print representation