OneVision software helps Showdown Displays to automate production process

Showdown Displays Europe has started to automate its production processes with the help of OneVision software – with time savings of up to 90%.

Until recently, many parts of Showdown’s production workflow involved manual work. In order to reduce the huge amount of time spent on manual tasks and to link the various production steps, a major automation project was launched at the Czech production and printing centre in Přestanov.

While almost 60% of the orders are coming in via the web shop, the full prepress process after receiving the print data was fully manual. It was therefore essential to start at this point in the process and ensure a smooth, automated and reliable transfer of incoming print jobs.

Showdown often found it can take up to 30 minutes per job to open large and complex Adobe Illustrator files. The solution now sees files automatically transferred from the web shop into the OneVision workflow and undergo an initial automated preflight check and standardisation process in prepress.

This significantly reduces the number of errors caused by bad quality files and also eliminates errors further down the production line.

Customers now automatically receive an email including the output of their uploaded artwork with feedback in all scenarios.

Jeroen Tubée, IT partner at Showdown Displays Europe, said: “By implementing OneVision’s software, we have achieved scalability in our print production and are well prepared for the future.”

Workflow is now automated, and direct connections to the HP presses and cutting machines from Zünd allow a smooth running of print and cut files. Prepress bottlenecks are eliminated, and high-speed presses and finishing machines are reliably and quickly supplied with print-ready files, allowing them to reach their full throughput potential.

The next step is to integrate completely manual production steps, such as sewing, into the workflow automation. This will allow the entire production process to be mapped, monitored and automated.

To meet the unique requirements of large format digital printing applications, Showdown Displays Europe offers dye sublimation, UV flatbed and latex printing with press and postpress solutions from HP Indigo and Zünd cutting machines, among others.