Founder ElecRoc

Ritchie (UK) has improved the visibility of its workflow with a future-proof, open software system, according to its pre-press manager Alan Urquhart

What does the ElecRoc do?
It’s a JDF-enabled PDF pre-press workflow system. It allows jobs to be visually tracked at every stage from origination to proofing, provides imposition and manages final output. Customers’ files are automatically checked by ElecRoc to ensure that errors are immediately flagged up so that bad files are not accepted by the workflow. ElecRoc also provides us with the ability to change workflow by simple drag-and-drop. Currently, we use a range of pre-press devices from different manufacturers, but ElecRoc will also enable us to output now, or in the future, to almost any manufacturer’s proofing, film, platesetter or digital printing machine. We are therefore future-proof and not tied down to any particular hardware manufacturer.

Why did you choose this particular workflow?
Because it provided a robust, open solution that was easy to operate, provided job tracking and had built-in quality and production control. It also allows us to drive our wide range of output devices and provides excellent value.

Did you look at any other similar systems?
Yes. We considered three other workflows in depth before we decided on the ElecRoc.

What features do you particularly like?
Its flexibility and its ease of use.

What features do you dislike?
We have not found any features that we dislike and the system meets with all of our requirements at present.

How fast is it?
To be efficient, a workflow system has to process jobs at least as quickly as the output devices can image them, and not cause a bottleneck. ElecRoc is much faster than some more expensive solutions, which I think is down to the performance of the built-in Founder EagleRIP technology.

What’s the quality like?
Good. We now have better quality control and, therefore, less wastage.

Were there any difficulties experienced during installation?
The installation by Founder was excellent in that it allowed us to work in tandem with our existing system until the ElecRoc workflow had been installed, configured and tested. This in turn enabled us to transfer our production to the new workflow as soon as the training was completed. We also benefited from follow-up visits by Founder’s staff to bring our software up to date with the latest enhancements and to answer questions that users’ experiences had
brought to light.

What about the service?
The support we have received from the Founder technical support teams based in the UK, Europe and Beijing have all been excellent.

How much time or money has it saved?
This is difficult to quantify at such an early stage but, without question, productivity has increased and quality control has improved, saving both time and money.

Has it won you new work?
Not yet, but I am sure it will contribute to new work in the future.

Who do you think the software is right for?
Any company that has the need to increase productivity, improve quality and make its existing pre-press equipment compatible with the latest file formats on a limited budget.

Under what circumstances would you buy another?
ElecRoc is highly scalable. We can add servers and divide the processes between them. It is therefore more a matter of hardware performance, rather than the need to license additional software.

CONCLUSION
User’s verdict
Speed 5/5
Quality 5/5
Reliability 4/5
Value for money 4/5

Supplier’s response
Derek Fearn, sales and marketing director at Founder, explains: “The ElecRoc WorkFlow enables small- to medium-sized commercial printing companies to increase productivity, improve quality and extend the
life-span of their existing pre-press equipment at an affordable cost. The workflow is very user friendly, which allows operators to feel comfortable and confident when working with the system.”
Price From £12,000
Contact Founder 01904 468 735