25 Jun 2025
Based on Enfocus Switch, callas pdfToolbox, and the ColorLogic ColorSuite, FUNKE Technology has implemented a unified workflow, ensuring smooth and standardized production at FUNKE Mediengruppe.
FUNKE Technology is a provider of innovative, highly efficient, and technology-driven application platforms for FUNKE Mediengruppe. FUNKE Technology is responsible for providing information technology and serves as an innovation driver and implementation partner for the corporate group and beyond. FUNKE Technology is represented at all major locations of FUNKE Mediengruppe in Berlin, Braunschweig, Erfurt, Essen, Hamburg, and Ismaning.
The previous production workflows were often inconsistent, and, therefore, potentially more prone to disruptions and inefficiencies.
Denis Freund is a Business Consultant at FUNKE Technology. He advises and supports the development, implementation, and introduction of applications, workflows, and interfaces in the area of technical (print) production processes, ensuring their compliance with established standards.
"To further automate our production and thus guarantee a smooth process, we have now finally switched to a central workflow system based on Enfocus Switch, callas pdfToolbox, and the ColorLogic ColorSuite (ZePrA, CoPrA)," reports Denis Freund. This solution offered the best ratio of cost, quality, and flexibility from FUNKE Technology's perspective. Key factors were the high configuration depth, particularly through preflight/fixup concepts, process plans, scripting, and variables, as well as scalability via the callas License Server and Dispatcher. The ColorLogic ZePrA color server ensures consistent output, supported by CoPrA DeviceLink profiles for separation optimization and color savings. The processing of media-neutral data is to be further strengthened, and the output profiles in production will be continuously adjusted based on measurements.
The goal of investing in the new workflow system is to homogenize all PDF and image workflows and establish a central output interface. The technical challenge lies less in the individual components, which were already partially in use, but rather in the interaction of the components: pdfToolbox Server, License Server, Cartridges, Dispatcher, Satellites, and their integration into Switch. "Initial performance issues were quickly resolved with the support of Impressed and the involved manufacturers – now we benefit from seamless scalability," says Denis Freund.
“Currently, parts of the daily newspapers, advertisements, e-papers, and external orders are processed with the new workflow. Additionally, semi-automatic processing lines are available for handling excluded problem data in the printing houses. In the future, the system will centrally map other relevant processes based on products from Enfocus, callas, and ColorLogic. A high degree of automation is aimed for while ensuring print quality, especially with problematic external data and time-critical daily newspaper production without manual intervention options”.
The new solution primarily enhances maintainability, improves product quality through the comprehensive integration of color management, and enables precise adaptation to operational requirements. Thanks to callas' License Server model, scaling is exceptionally flexible. The transition required special attention to processing speed and load distribution. Peak loads in the afternoon and evening left little room for failures. Therefore, a failover License Server was additionally introduced. To avoid changing interfaces to existing systems, another focus was on stable reporting from the workflows.
“Without the perfect interaction of the solutions used, none of this would have been possible,” concludes Denis Freund. “Our new workflow lives up to its name. The solutions from Enfocus, callas, and ColorLogic form a unit, facilitate work, and ensure standardized and automated production.”
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