Demonstrated at drupa, Taskero Universe is a new Fujifilm production management system designed to monitor, analyse and communicate print performance across single or multiple print sites. Here we take a quick look round a few of its key benefits.

Already in operation in the US and due to be launched in the UK and Europe in 2009, Taskero Universe operates via a unique hosted online service to monitor and analyse print equipment performance, from detailed job-by-job, press-by-press colour variance measurements to complete multi-site production reporting. It allows users to define the standards they are printing to, such as ISO 12647, and monitor performance against those standards. It can also help to identify areas for improvement and to pre-empt hardware breakdowns and other production interruptions.

In addition to providing a wide range of performance reports, Taskero Universe can be used for colour control to ISO or other standards, ensuring colour accuracy before proofs are sent. There's also an option to integrate customers' systems for remote proofing. Consistency of jobs run on different presses or at different times is also improved by Taskero, as it tracks not only paper and ink weight measurements but also paper selection and pressroom environment, helping to match reprints.

Hardware analysis capabilities allow Taskero Universe to continuously monitor output devices and servers. Immediate alarms are raised if anything goes wrong and the system can notify Fujifilm support staff of impending failures, allowing repairs to be scheduled before costly production stoppages occur. Taskero can also interface to MIS and to Fujifilm's XMF Workflow, where it can raise alarms or halt production.

Key components of Taskero Universe include ColorPath Verified, which enables users to communicate, control and confirm colour across a range of output devices that includes monitors, inkjet and other proofers, platesetters and presses. The Server Performance Management module ensures that each server is performing correctly and efficiently, while Hardware Monitoring keeps an eye on output devices and other hardware, providing early warning of potential failures and other platemaking problems.