Ppi Media offers Content-X platform to corporates

Former Manroland subsidiary ppi Media is offering its Content-X cross-channel publishing software, used by daily newspaper and small magazine publishers, to large corporates, associations and agencies.

The widening of ppi's digital offering follows its acquisition earlier this month by German offset print group Evers-Frank and Stuttgart-based IT, publishing, sport, music and fashion conglomerate Bertsch Innovation Group.

Content-X is ppi's editorial workflow tool. Initially developed for newspaper and magazine publishers, it combines Digital Collections' DC-X content management system with Adobe InDesign via the plugin ContentLink.

The platform allows content to be uploaded into the DC-X CMS in a media-neutral state for publishing to print, online or mobile, while the ContentLink plugin transfers content from the CMS to InDesign where it can be formated for whatever output channel is required.

According to ppi Media, Content-X allows graphic editors, agencies and experts to view and edit text and publications from any computer, allowing the simplification of things like PR work.

Martin Ruhle, chief technology officer at ppi Media, said the decision to offer Content-X to corporates and other organisations outside traditional publishing was part of its new strategy under Evers-Frank and Bertsch Innovation.

"We will pursue our classic range of products for publishing and printing and will continue to offer, supervise and develop our proven solutions," said Ruhle. "In addition, ppi Media will gradually expand its digital products."

The company is planning to offer a number of new subscription options for its software products, including software as a service and application service models.

"With print as a basis and our new digital solutions, we are focusing on expansion," added chief operating officer Norbert Ohl.