Revealing two completely new AI-powered products and updates to its fabric printing software, Fiery has also shown off the latest updates to its Impress software for industrial inkjet applications.
Brand new at Printing United is Fiery’s Ticketing Assistant software, currently in development for a late 2024 launch. Leaning on large language models (LLMs) of AI, the programme can read emails and automatically translate them into job tickets.
Doug Richards, partner product line manager for AI development, told Printweek: “The idea is to make the process as pain free as possible for both the person submitting and for the printer.
“We’re not looking to compete with web-to-print providers here, we’re not dealing with billing information; it’s just about making it as easy as possible to print through Fiery.”
The project’s first phase will see it handle enquiries over email, where it can pull attachments for print and impose standard settings onto a ticket without need for a printer’s oversight. Subsequent updates will allow printers to have an online web form for clients to upload files directly with a description of what they’d like.
Fiery’s other AI-powered update is also designed as a quick quality-of-life fix for printers; Fiery Inkwise is an inventory management program for ink shipments that tracks printers’ ink usage, allowing firms to keep the minimum quantity of ink in storage as possible.
Available in Q1 2025, the system prompts users to order inks in time, based on the shipment time from supplier, and prioritises older inks to minimise the chances of inks going out of date in storage.
Alongside the new AI software, Fiery has been showing visitors its range of DFE programs, including the Impress software for industrial inkjet printers unveiled at Drupa.
Impress, an off-shelf solution for any industrial inkjet machine, will be able to get a machine running in “weeks, not months”, said Giselle Robeson, senior product marketing manager at Fiery, talking visitors through the system.
She told Printweek: “Initially, we’re targeting the packaging, label and flexible packaging space – we have customers in active production on labels and envelopes, but we’ll be looking at more unusual applications further down the line, like textiles, ceramics, that kind of thing.”
Available now as a software subscription, the program will also work with Fiery’s new cloud-based Smart Estimator software, which can estimate projected ink volumes and costs per job across a printer’s fleet, which is also available now.
The developer likewise has put its latest merchandising and garment printing software on show, with custom drivers and print modes developed with Epson for its Digital Factory RIP, which from Q4 2024 will be available to drive Epson’s SureColor F1070 DTF/DTG hybrid printer; Fiery’s SignLab and EngraveLab software was also highlighted at the booth.
Toby Weiss, Fiery CEO, said: “At Printing United 2024, we’re showcasing the Fiery products and technologies that drive the cutting edge of innovation across the print industry.
“Our award-winning products guarantee shorter learning curves, effortless automation, unified print room workflows, hassle-free customisation, and the best possible colour accuracy.”
Printing United concludes today (12 September) in Las Vegas.
