Describe your business
We offer pre-press, design and print services. Our major customer is Woodmansterne, a greetings card supplier. We set up a facility on its premises to provide it with plates, proofs and origination.
What does the software do?
Apogee offers full PDF workflow, which integrates well with our business. We have set up a number of templates for our greetings card work and Apogee incorporates workflows for all our needs. Some workflows are pretty complicated, but Apogee can cope with platemaking, paper proofs, PDF files to export, transparency previews and files for cover guides.
Why did you choose the product?
Apogee was upgraded to Version 6 and it is a quicker process - RIP files are a lot faster. It is, in effect, the same software, but it is a lot more user-friendly and we can process jobs a lot more quickly. We started off with a Screen platesetter with Agfa plates, but over the past few years, we have switched to an Agfa platesetter with Apogee software. We went for Agfa because we wanted to keep everything under one roof - it was more logical for our layout.
What features do you particularly like?
There are no bottlenecks and you can edit workflows a lot more easily. It rips ahead of the platesetter and also has a transparency feature. You are able to see what will be printed on the back of the sheet, which saves us time and material. Previously, we had to print A3 proofs, but now we don't have to do this for every job. It's all automated and nothing has to be manually imposed. In essence, this software does exactly what it says on the tin.
Is there anything that you wish it had that it doesn't?
We have a Xerox iGen3 and it would be nice to integrate the workflow for a job. I believe that Agfa is working on that at the moment.
How fast is it?
In the past, we were processing around five to six plates an hour but we are doing a lot more now - a fair quantity.
How reliable is it?
It is such a reliable piece of kit.
How easy is it to use?
It was quite a straightforward switchover as we knew how to use the software. Operating it is one thing - building a workflow is more specialised. We were able to build workflows from existing modules.
How much time or money has it saved?
We are printing more and more litho cards because this system is more cost-effective. It has improved our turnaround and service.
Were there any difficulties experienced during the installation or after?
It took around two days of configuration and it has integrated very well. When we bought the older version of Apogee, it was a complete install with the software and equipment.
What about the pre- and after-sale service?
Agfa are very good at coming out even though we don't have a contract. They've always arrived on the same day.
Who do you think the software is right for?
The system is capable of coping with two or three presses on the go. The cost may put off a small printer, but if you are a jobbing printer with files from all sorts of places it would be beneficial. It's good for commercial print firms.
Conclusion
User's verdict
Speed 5/5
Quality 5/5
Reliability 5/5
Value for money 4/5
Supplier's response
Agfa UK systems solutions specialist Chris Burn says: "The Apogee suite can be configured for any print firm. At ImageHaus, they have tailored job tickets in a very specific way, which suits their work with Woodmansterne. The product has the capability of driving areas, such as proofing and CTP. We have thousands of users and it is a very scalable solution."
Price from £6,000
Contact Agfa UK 020 8231 4929 www.agfa.com
