Print simulation
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General Simulation
Print process simulators [1] use interactive software to reproduce the operating conditions of complex multi colour printing presses that often cost several million dollars. Simulators are available for different printing process technologies (Offset Sheetfed, Heatset and Coldest Web Offset; Flexographic and Gravure Packaging), includes their consumables (like inks, plates, paper and other substrates) and where pertinent, in-line packaging operations (such as folding, cutting, label creation).
Simulation in Education & Training
Press operators get ‘hands-on’ experience in quality control and problem solving without the costs, dangers or unstructured training associated with learning on actual presses. A wide variety of printing conditions and problems are covered that are used for training, skills assessment, performance enhancement and process analysis. Simulation is a means of presenting infrequent problems [15] before they happen so that they can be recognized when they do occur. Exercises can evaluate specific competencies and if they are used to solve problems [12]. When possible, simulators training scenarios are linked to industry-standard curricula like PIA (Printing Industries of America) [27], the NAA (Newspaper Association of America) [28] and the Flexographic Technical Association [29].
Printing Simulation
Typical systems include monitoring and cost analysis that allows the training process to correlate with versus the waste, cost and time on a ‘real’ press [13] [14]. The simulators can either be either connected to a press control console (like the 'cockpit' in a flight simulator) or run on standard micro computer hardware with single or multiple screens. Internet-based learning management systems now allow simulation exercises to be made in a one language/location and reviewed in another language by a training supervisor in a different location [23] — what is traced is the interaction with the process, not the local name of the controls.
It is estimated that over 2000 print simulators are installed worldwide (in 2013). Users include technical schools, universities, printing companies and their suppliers, [17] [18][19][20] who find that they cut costs, accelerate training time, and give a more thorough grounding in structured problem solvin
Simulators are used alongside real presses in the EuroSkills and WorldSkills competitions to select the best printer [24] [26].
References
1.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulation
2.Print Solutions, September 2011, The Emergence of Press Simulation Technology, Heidi Tolliver
3.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishikawa_diagram
3.Impresion, Ecuador, May-June 2011, El Auge de uso de los simulatores para ensenanza en las artes graficas, Fabian Ruiz
4.
5.GATF World, December 2007, Heatset Simulator levels Playing Field at Quebecor World
6.Ifra Techniques, 2004, Simulation in the Pressroom
7.PressTime (NAA) February 2006, "Pretend Press Runs savle Real-World Dollars
8.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flexography
9.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotogravure
10.Gravure Magazine (Gravure Assoc of America) : December 2004 : pp 56-64, several articles on gravure and press simulation
11.RIND Survey, January 2012, "Simulated press problem focusses on tackling production problems"
12.Printing News, May 14, 2001, "Useful as Training Assistants, Print Simulators taking off in print shops everywhere"
13.What They Think, March 9; 2011, "Press Simulation shows wide variety of uses at Transcontinental Mexico"
14.Quebec Imprimerie, N0 211, 2011, "Au dela de la formation sur presse"
15.http://www.sinapseprint.com/IMG/pdf/Case_study_Quebecor_ST_Cloud.pdf
16.Printing News, May 14, 2001: Useful as Training Assistants, Print Simulators Taking off in Printshops Everywhere.
17.Print/Print&Paper Europe, April 2004, Confronting the skills problem, p 247
18.Press Time (Newspaper Association of America) :February 2006 : p 53 “Pretend Pressruns save Real-World Dollars”
19.Flexo&Gravure International Fall 1998, Pilots use simulators, so should gravure printers
20.Wall Street Journal, http://blogs.wsj.com/informedreader/2007/03/04/training-generation-y-to-work/
21.http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0703040309mar04,0,455016.story?track=rss
22.http://www.upm.com/en/about_upm/media/upm_stories/get_simulated/
23.www.worldskills.org
24.http://www.worldskillslondon2011.com/skill-categories/information-and-communications-technology/offset-printing
25.Rind Survey, December2011, "Heidelberg, Sinapse come together for WorldSkills 2011"^ Printing Industries of America, Sheetfed Offset Press Training Program, Appendix A: Implementation of Simulator Training, 1998 and subsequent, PIA PRESS, ISBN 0-88362-225-4
26.www.pia.org
27.www.fta.org
28.http://www.sinapseprint.com/References-Installations
29.GATF World, May/June 2003, "Using SHOTS"
30.GATF World, October 2003, "UW Stout Teaches Wide-Web Printing with Computer Simulation"
31.New Heatset Simulator Generation - newsletter1
32.New Heatset Simulator Generation - newsletter2
33.New Heatset Simulator Generation - newsletter3
34.UPM release on PPD
35.International Circle of Graphic School Directors, 2011 Conference, Norrkoping Sweden, "Development of knowledge and press-test based Heatset training simulator Peter Herman, Laurent Grimaldi and Gerd Carl"
36.sinapseuser quote page
37.icgq transcon case study
38.shorewood case study
39.field case study
40.lithokrone case study
41.ifra case study