Metrix Gains Growing Reputation for Ease
of Use, Productivity
Phoenix, Arizona, October 29, 2007 -
"Metrix is so easy – it's like a video
game for printers!" – Vincent Sita, Rex Three, Inc.
Rex Three, Inc. (Rex3) is a full-service graphic
communications company located in Sunrise, Florida. The privately-held
concern was founded in 1959 as a photo engraving business,
but has evolved into a total graphic solutions company
offering products and services encompassing everything from
concept to delivery. Rex3's upward growth over its almost
50 years in operation has been sure and steady –
annual sales today are up around the $25 million mark.
Vincent Sita, VP Manufacturing at Rex Three,
attributes the company's success to "a forward-thinking
philosophy, along with continuous investment in the education
of the people who work here, and constant improvement to the
technical infrastructure."
Metrix, purchased in early 2007, was one of
those improvements. When asked why he purchased Metrix, Sita
replied, "Primarily because the other planning software
we were using did not fulfill the vision we had for it, and
Metrix seemed like it could. The vision was that our CSRs
would be able to make their own layouts and then send the
templates in to prepress. But we found the other planning
software very difficult to learn, so we never ended up with
more than two people who really knew it well. The rest of
the CSRs were intimidated by it, so we never really got it
up and running. For one reason or another we were also not
able to successfully connect it to our imposition software,
so the templates were still being re-keyed in prepress."
Sita continued, "Metrix seemed to be easier
to use, and our experience proved it was. Our CSRs learned
it in about an hour – Metrix is so easy, it's
like a video game for printers. Also, the Metrix License Server
makes it an attractive package – install it anywhere
you like, but just use the number of seats you purchase. In
the end, I got a 5-seat installation of Metrix for about what
it would have cost me for a single upgrade of the other software
product. Also, Metrix sends data to Rampage without any problem –
and with the new version of Rampage and Metrix coming out
I expect that will get even slicker. The bottom line is that
Metrix was able to deliver on the vision we had."
The 5-seat installation of Metrix gets a real
workout at Rex3 – four CSRs, three estimators, and
three prepress operators all use it for different tasks in
the production chain. This efficient use of resources is made
possible by the speed with which Metrix creates and produces
layouts and imposition information. "Our current Metrix
workflow begins with the estimator who initiates the job once
it enters production, followed by the CSR who opens it up,
makes sure the layout will work for the pressroom, checks
the quantities, sheet sizes and so on, and links the PDF files
to the layout," said Sita. "Then all the prepress
operators have to do is open it up and print." Sita added,
"With the new level of JDF compatibility coming out,
we'll be able to send an unpopulated JDF to Rampage –
so we won't even have to link the PDF on book work. On
gang work we'll still link the PDF in Metrix."
Sita has not done a detailed analysis of the
return on investment for Metrix, but reckons the annual labor
savings to be around $120,000. "On average, if there
are no serious curve balls, layout and imposition are done
in 10 minutes or less. Besides, Metrix keeps the errors down.
The way it communicates a job is very cool – everything
is very visual, and you get instant feedback. The layouts
are easy to read so confusion on the combo runs has gone away.
I also like the fact that Metrix uses JDF folding patterns."
Sita concluded by citing his satisfaction with
the responsiveness of LithoTechnics: "Every build of
Metrix is something new and something we wanted. They are
very quick to react and open to suggestions, and that's
one of the reasons I selected Metrix. I also have that with
Rampage and Pace, and that's what I look for in a software
vendor."
About LithoTechnics
LithoTechnics is a privately held company founded
in 2003 by Rohan Holt. Holt is the original inventor of SuperImpose™,
the product that was adapted and renamed UpFront® when
it was acquired by ScenicSoft in 1999. Metrix, LithoTechnics'
flagship product, received the prestigious 2005 PIA/GATF InterTech™
Technology Award, recognized industry-wide as a symbol of
technological innovation and excellence. With offices in Phoenix,
Arizona, and south of Sydney, Australia, LithoTechnics is
a software company focused on providing key tools and technologies
to enable print workflow automation. LithoTechnics is a full
member of the CIP4 Organization.
