POSTPRESS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM iCE LiNKPOSTPRESS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

iCE LiNKManage your binderywith iCE LiNK.

OPTIMIZE YOUR WORKFLOW TO IMPROVEPRODUCTION AND INCREASE EFFICIENCY.
The iCE LiNK Post-press Management System enables the centralized management of binding andpostpress equipment using cloud technology.
With precise analysis results from the KPI*1 analysis function, iCE LiNK reduces costs, provides
productivity visibility, and automates workflow by integration to MIS and prepress.
*1KPI stands for Key Performance Indicator. A KPI is an indicator used to evaluate the degree of achievement of an organization’s goals.

SIX KEY POINTS OF ICE LINKFinishingAutomationMISIntegration

Cloud-based
MaintenanceManagementPrepress
Integration

Visualization
KPI Analysisi = Intelligence, Integration, Interaction
C = Connection
E = Efficiency

ICE LINK HELPS SOLVE THESE CHALLENGES

1. Visualization of the Production Process.
2. Postpress Analysis and Management
3. Workflow Automation
4. Integration with Prepress Workflow
2

Postpress Management System iCE LiNK

1. PRODUCTION PROCESS VISUALIZATION.
Real-time data management is necessary to make daily ﬁnishing operations more productive.
Cloud-based data management enables better and faster decision making, which in turn improves
the bindery environment.

Track machine operating status
Detailed visualization of plant operations with near real-time results for transparency and attention to detail.
Collaboration between Operators and Managers iCE LiNK provides analytical functions based on speciﬁc data, such asrecorded operating performance.
iCE LiNK provides analytical functions based on speciﬁc data, such as recorded operating results.
*Scheduling requires Enterprise.

DashboardScheduling

Track job progress with barcodes
Data can be collected on a job-by-job basis by reading job information and other data with barcodes. Analysis by process,such as folding, binding, and cutting in the bookbinding process and cutting in the ﬁnishing process.
In addition, the system supports the creation of daily work reports by managing the history of each operator.

Operator ID, Start/Finish, Setup Time, Production Time, Error Stopping Time, Stopping Time

Start

Same Job

Setup

Finish
Production

Start
Setup

Finish
Production

Start

FinishSetup

Production

You can use this information to ﬁndbottlenecks and improve eﬃciency.

Postpress Management System iCE LiNK

32. POSTPRESS ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT.
Horizon binders are designed to maximize performance and work eﬃciency.
iCE LiNK allows you to take advantage of the information you need to do so.

KPI analysis (Jobs, Operators, Number produced, etc.)
KPI analysis enables continuous operational improvement and assists in generating better insights. Enhanced statusmonitoring and control via web browser or tablet. It also gives you access at any time to the process information you needto improve your operations and business opportunities.

Comparative Analysis

Worker Analysis

Maintenance management
Impacts on bindery productivity include production volume, availability, failures, restarts, and consumable life.
With detailed information on each of these KPIs, higher level of visibility. iCE LiNK can be deployed across multiple bindery
operations to facilitate informed decision making, improving production efficiency, uptime, and performance.

Maintenance History

4Postpress Management System iCE LiNK

Error History

3. AUTOMATION WORKFLOW.
Automating the binding workflow has the eﬀect of eliminating touch points. Integration with theMIS and prepress workflow is essential to maximize this eﬀect. The system helps the operator
understand the binding process and automates the changeover between the binding machine andthe ﬁnishing machine.

Integration with MIS and Prepress

Automation

Enterprise

When iCE LiNK is integrated with an MIS, the MIS provides the necessary information for ﬁnishing operations.
With this information, like ﬁnal size and piece count, iCE LiNK assigns Horizon devices based on corresponding processing
instructions. Additionally, integration with the prepress workﬂow allows for processing instructions based on imposition
data, making automated machine changeovers a reality.

MIS

Cloud Data Base
JMF

JDF

Edge Service
JDF

Finishing machines

JMF

Automated set data

Prepress workflow

Monitor the operational status of production printers and offset presses

Automation

Enterprise

For both oﬀset and digital printing, ﬁnishing is a necessary process. iCE LiNK can capture and display the operating
information of the previous process in a dashboard. Similarly, operation results can be accumulated in iCE LiNK.

MISCloud Data Base
JMF

JDF

Edge Service
JDF

Finishing machines

JMF

Dashboard for Production PrinterDFE

Postpress Management System iCE LiNK54. PREPRESS WORKFLOW INTEGRATION.
Seamless workflow with Ultimate solutions
ULTIMATE IMPOSTRIP ® WAS DESIGNED WITH PRODUCTIVITY IN MIND FOR ALL PRINT APPLICATIONS.

AUTOMATION IMPOSITION WORKFLOW■ Designed with productivity in mind, Ultimate Impostrip®
is easy-to-use, versatile software that optimizes every
aspect of the Prepress imposition workﬂow.
■ It optimizes every aspect of the prepress imposition
workﬂow.

AUTOMATED SETUP OF FINISHING DEVICE■ Ultimate Bindery® is an open JDF server that validates
jobs and automatically sends processing instructions
to the finishing device.
■ Information between the Prepress workflow and thebindery.

Transactional& Direct Mail

Offset Printing

Digital Printing

Variable Booklets

CommercialPrinting

PackagingLabel Printing

Cards

Photo andPhotobooks

Book Printing

Wide Format

Web-to-Print

Reduce preparation
setup and eliminate
bottlenecks

Validate jobs before
printing to reduce costs
and waste

Consistent setup
every time accuracy isimproved by performing
improved accuracy

Open solution for all
workﬂows

End-to-end workflow with Ultimate TechnoGraphics and iCE LiNK
It provides imposition in conjunction with MIS and various print applications, and iCE LiNK can instruct setup information
for binding and ﬁnishing machines from the imposition information.
By providing an end-to-end workflow, iCE LiNK offers high productivity and a high degree of automation.
iCE LiNK requires either Automation or Enterprise.

JDF

MIS

JMF

JDF

Print Company

JMF

JDF

DTP

Prepress

OffsetMIS Integration
Auto Imposition
Job Batch...etc

Ganging Job

Finishing

DeliveryXML

Order Info
PDF

Booklet

PDF
CCY

Y

YM

M

CMCMY

Inkjet Roll

K

1009080706050403020Stitchers

10Customer
Flyer, etc

Digital

6Postpress Management System iCE LiNKSlitterTHREE EDITIONS
iCE LiNK is a subscription service with minimal startup costs.
There are three editions to choose from and IoT Basic is the most basic model.
If you need to expand the system after installation, you can upgrade to a higher edition.
*Specifications are subject to change.

1 IoT Basic

2 Automation

3 Enterprise

Real-time monitoringof the machine
operating status.

Connecting JDF
with MIS or Prepress.

Includes all functions
like job scheduling

12

3

IoT basicAutomation

Enterprise*1Dashboard✓✓✓

Maintenance Notification✓✓✓

Production Printer Dashboard-✓✓Offset Printer Dashboard-✓✓

Overall Equipment Effectiveness✓✓✓

Job Analysis

✓ *2✓

✓

Operator Analysis✓*✓✓-✓✓

Barcode Jobs✓✓✓

JDF/JMF Workflow-✓✓

Create / Edit / Delete JDF jobs--✓

Job scheduling--✓

FUNCTION

Device Management

KPI Analysis

2Web API with External System* Detailed job report can be posted to external device for job
analysis.

Workflow*1 On-premises version which does not send any data to cloud server is only available for the Enterprise edition. Ask yourlocal dealer for details.
*2 CSV data output only.

COMPUTER SPECIFICATIONS.
EDGE COMPUTER
Processor

Intel Core i3 Processor or above isrecommended

Operating
SystemWindows 10 Pro Version 20H2 or above
NET Framework Version 4.7.2 or aboveRAMat least 4 GB (8 GB is recommended.)HDD

at least 120 GB

Monitor

1,280 x 1,024 pixel or higher

Number ofdevices perlicense20 Horizon devices

SERVER COMPUTERCLIENT TERMINAL
Terminals

Windows computers, Macs, and tabletsthat can use one of the followingbrowsers

CompatibleBrowsers

Google Chrome: V. 83 or above
Microsoft Edge: V. 44 or above

Monitor

1,920 x 1,080 pixels or higher

Processor

Intel Core i7-8550U 1.8GHz Processor

OperatingSystem

Windows Server 2019 Standard oraboveRAM

16.0 GBHDD

at least 1 TB

Monitor

1,280 x 1,024 pixel or higher*For the on premises version, a server computeris required in addition to the edge computer andclient terminal.

*Up to 20 devices can be connected per 1 mainlicense.
Postpress Management System iCE LiNK7

MORE ATHORIZON.CO.JP

Horizon International Inc.

Horizon GmbH

1601 Asahi, Shinasahicho, Takashima,Shiga, 520-1501, Japan
Phone : +81-740-25-4570
Fax : +81-740-25-5820
www.horizon.co.jp

Pascalstrasse 20
25451 Quickborn / Germany
Phone : +49 4106 8042-0
Fax : +49 4106 8042-199
www.horizon.de240201/CT00146-04