Quantum Color Graphics, a leading digital and conventional offset printer based in Morton Grove, Illinois, has made significant strides in production efficiency by adopting DALIM DRIVE from DALIM SOFTWARE. With 203 employees and 55% of their workload produced on HP Indigo and HP T240 presses, Quantum specializes in high-volume jobs like statements, booklets, and postcards - all under tight SLAs of 48 to 72 hours.
A Customer-First Philosophy Meets Technical Challenges
“We never ask customers to adapt to our processes,” says Cheryl Kahanec, CEO. “We adapt to theirs.”
Quantum's flexible approach to customer service is matched by its openness to handling files in virtually any format. But that flexibility comes at a cost. Files often arrive second-, third-, or even fourth-hand, created by clients’ clients with varying degrees of expertise. Many PDFs are poorly constructed, improperly flattened, or contain watermarked or low-resolution images. These inconsistencies led to bottlenecks, RIP failures, and SLA risks.
“Just because a PDF opens in Acrobat doesn’t mean it will RIP correctly,” adds Alan Darling, VP of Information Systems.
Workflow Bottlenecks and the Limits of Traditional Preflight Tools
Quantum had tested multiple preflight solutions — none could deliver the speed or accuracy required to process millions of incoming PDF pages in near-real time. Failed files regularly crashed RIP batches, causing thousands of lost records and costly production delays.
“We were catching issues post-print, and that was unacceptable,” explains Darling.
Enter DALIM DRIVE: A High-Performance, Parallel Preflight System
The game-changer came in the form of DALIM DRIVE from DALIM SOFTWARE, introduced by Carol Werlé. The solution's standout feature? Microservices-based architecture enabling massive parallel processing across high-core servers — a perfect match for Quantum's high-volume demands.
Quantum deployed DALIM DRIVE on a 64-core Linux server with SSDs and high-speed memory, connected to a 10GB backbone. The result? An immediate transformation.
Key Benefits of DALIM DRIVE at Quantum:
- Real-time or near-real-time preflighting of PDF files
- Intelligent preflight, normalization, and output processes that adapt per client and job
- A quarantine system for isolating and reviewing problematic files
- Over 10 PDF files per second processed — millions handled with less than 10 rejections
- Seamless SLA compliance and increased press uptime
- Reduced need for human intervention in file correction
“Before DALIM DRIVE, we had tens of thousands of problematic files a month. Now, it’s just a handful,” says Darling. “It made us four times faster and significantly more flexible.”
A Trusted Partner in Innovation
The shift to DALIM DRIVE has earned Quantum a stronger reputation with its clients, even prompting one to enlist them to improve the file preparation of other vendors.
“This isn’t just about software; it’s about leadership,” notes Kahanec. “Our ability to implement cutting-edge workflows makes us stand out.”
Looking ahead, Quantum is scaling even further with the first perfecting Landa press in the Midwest, supported by a 256-core server—a move that underscores the critical importance of fast, dependable file processing.
Why DALIM DRIVE Stands Out
Unlike traditional prepress tools, DALIM DRIVE:
- Converts tasks into parallel microprocesses, slashing preflight time
- Customizes file normalization per client profile
- Ensures higher file integrity before reaching RIP or press
- Integrates easily into high-performance print environments
“No other solution offered this speed and adaptability,” says Darling. “DALIM DRIVE is uniquely positioned for today’s complex, high-volume print workflows.”
Ready to Future-Proof Your PDF Workflow?
DALIM DRIVE is revolutionizing how leading printers like Quantum manage file preflight, normalization, and output. If your team struggles with file errors, RIP crashes, or SLA compliance, it's time to see what’s possible with the right technology.
Book a personalized demo today and discover how DALIM SOFTWARE can streamline your workflow, reduce risk, and boost production speed.