Me & My: Heidelberg Proman

Q: Please describe your company. 
A: Established in 2004, Krishna Creations began with producing barcode labels. Expanding its gamut, slowly and steadily, it started catering to the textile industry with garment labels, printed inlays, leaflets, catalogues, foiled tags etc. Even though the company saw year-on-year growth, it outsourced printing to offset printers in Ahmedabad until 2013, when the company purchased a pre-owned Heidelberg four-colour press. In 2017, the company installed a brand new Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 75. It also invested in Maxima Exb35 automatic die-cutting machine, two HPM cutting machines, and a Yawa foil stamping machine and lamination machine amongst other machines. In February 2019, the company invested in a Heidelberg Suprasetter platesetter and the Proman software.

Q: What is the Heidelberg Proman?
A: Heidelberg’s Prinect Production Manager is called Proman. Prinect Proman is an assortment of all Prinect software from pre-press to post-press with integration of the entire press. It is a print shop workflow. 

Q: When did you start using the Proman?
A: When we purchased the new Suprasetter A106 platesetter, we felt the need for a good workflow software. That’s when we switched to the Proman. Heidelberg gave us a good offer combined with the CTP system. 

Q: What properties of Proman do you like?
A: Proman is offered in subscription model, so there is no need to purchase it. The billing is done month-on-month. It is as simple as using a post-paid mobile connection.

Q: Did you look at any other similar softwares?
A: We looked at Kodak and Esko, but we found that Heidelberg’s offer was all encompassing and met our requirements.

Q: What features do you particularly like?
A: I am a designer. Hence, all the features in pre-press looks impressive. Proman helps a lot in pre-press that make our work hassle-free. It helps in preflight, colour conversion, trapping, step and repeat, packaging design, rendering with all screening types, ink presetting, colour proofing and so on. It also can be extended to scheduler, MIS connector, data terminals etc. 

Q: What difference has it made to your business?
A: It has improved the quality and productivity.

Q: How has it helped in terms of productivity? 
A: First we used to work with CorelDraw, and RIP the files using a Harlequin RIP. Now we have a more systematic way of doing things. We are still learning and are yet to implement all the things fully. 

Q: How flexible is the Proman?
A: Payment is convenient, because it is monthly and based on our output. All necessary component are already there. We can scale it up in the future to add features such as MIS connectivity etc.

Q: How reliable is it (crash or downtime)?
A: Very reliable. It is installed on a Dell Server. Plus, Heidelberg offers web-based support to our operators.

Q: How easy is it to use? 
A: It is very operator friendly.  

Q: How much time or money has it saved? 
A: I have not looked at it in detail, though I know that there is a way we can measure it from the system itself.

Q: Would you say that it offers value for money?  
A: Definitely. 

Q: Were there any difficulties experienced during the installation or after? 
A: Not really, though our operators are yet to fully exploit the software. They are still learning.

Q: Who do you think the Proman is right for? 
A: Proman is right for all those looking for full production in a print shop.

Q: How many Proman licences do you have? Under what circumstances would you add more?
A: One license is enough. If we need more operators we already have the license for it.