The company said that both its MIS and Web2Print software packages were unique in their ability to offer full JDF functionality on the shop floor, "from prepress to bindery".

Gary Marron, president of Hiflex North America, said: "Hiflex has broken the mold of a traditional printer's workflow and our customers are experiencing the most productive manufacturing systems available with our advanced systems.

"Hiflex has the only proven 'Lights-Out Automation System' for print available on the market today. Our customers' twelve CIP4 (CIPPI) Production and Integration Awards, and this year's PIA/GATF InterTech Award, are a testament to what we deliver."

Hiflex said it could offer JDF compatibility with Kodak's Prinergy and Insite in the pre-press department, KBA Logotronic Professional in the pressroom, Muller Martini stitchers with Automated Make-Ready System (AMyRS) and MBO folders with Datamanager in the bindery.

Marron said: "Hiflex is the only MIS vendor with a true JDF data structure at the core of the system. What this means is that we are able to not only generate JDFs dynamically for each order, but we can import them from a print buyer and export them as well for preflighting on the customer's desktop against the specs directly from the order.

"We configure Hiflex MIS to a printer's specific rules and equipment and then generate JDFs dynamically for every order to be printed.

"These dynamic JDFs include a complete job component breakdown, with JDF parts and sub parts, as well as a complete JDF process plan on how the job will be run in the shop and in live production."

Marron added that Hiflex MIS could help printers to lower their costs and boost their profitability.

"Hiflex is focused on helping printers to first lower their administrative costs. This is the area of biggest concern to most printers, and what has a strangle-hold on their potential for profitability," he said.