Field

What it controls

When to change this

What depends on it

Name

The display name Estimator shows on the Print Machines list, on every quote's route information, and in the Excluded machines section of Issue analysis.

When the press is renamed in your shop or when the current name does not match the physical label.

The press name on every quote breakdown and the Excluded machines entry; routing math is unaffected.

Manufacturer

Free-text label captured alongside the name (e.g., Heidelberg, KBA, Komori).

When you transfer a record between brands or correct a typo.

Display only; no effect on routing or pricing.

Machine Type

Locked at Sheet-Fed Offset for this guide. Switching to another machine type rewrites the editor and drops offset-specific values; treat as a re-create.

Only when first creating the record.

Every cost calculation on every quote that uses this press.

Status (Active / Inactive)

Whether the press is a candidate when Estimator routes a quote.

When the press is taken out of service, decommissioned, or temporarily mothballed.

Routing on every new and recalculated quote. Inactive presses are dropped before the candidate filter runs and never appear under Excluded machines.

Tags

Compatibility labels linking the press to substrates, finishing machines, and product categories.

When you add a new substrate group, retire an old one, or onboard new finishing equipment that this press feeds.

Routing on every quote: a quote that requires a tag the press lacks is excluded with the reason "no machine matches tags".

Field

What it controls

When to change this

What depends on it

Minimum sheet size (width × height)

The smallest flat sheet the gripper can pick up, in millimetres or inches.

When the press's gripper specification changes, or when calibration shows the practical minimum differs from the spec sheet.

Routing for every short-edge or odd-size job. Excluded machines lists "sheet smaller than minimum" when a quote falls below the limit.

Maximum sheet size (width × height)

The largest flat sheet the cylinders can pass.

When you commission a new feeder or measure a hard limit that differs from spec.

Routing for every B1, B2, or large-sheet quote. Excluded machines entry "sheet larger than maximum" fires when exceeded.

Maximum stock caliper

The thickest paper or board the press can run without jamming, in microns or points.

When a different feeder is fitted, or when run experience shows the practical limit differs from spec.

Routing for board, cover, and packaging jobs. Excluded machines entry "caliper exceeds maximum" fires when a quote uses a substrate above this value.

Non-printable margins (width / height)

Edge area the gripper and printable cylinder cannot reach.

When you change cylinder dressing or replace the gripper bar.

The imposition the planning engine produces — if the bleed and trim margins do not fit within the printable area, the press is excluded.

Field

What it controls

When to change this

What depends on it

Make-ready hours

Fixed overhead time before the run starts: load paper, mount plates, run colour bars.

When the press's actual make-ready differs from the default by ≥0.1 hour (measured from the operator log).

The Make-ready line on every quote using this press.

Make-ready (sheets)

Sheets consumed during ink registration before the press prints saleable copies.

When commissioning measurements show waste differs from the spec sheet, or when a new paper supplier shifts the waste profile.

The substrate quantity on every offset quote, and therefore the substrate cost line.

Output per hour

Maximum sustained production speed at standard quality, in sides per hour.

When commissioning measurements (or annual recalibration) show the speed differs from the default.

The Run-time line on every quote: run minutes = sides ÷ output per hour.

Machine rate per hour

Hourly running cost of the press (amortisation, electricity, consumables), in tenant currency.

When you re-cost the press (e.g., after a service contract change) or move from straight-line to actual-use amortisation.

The machine portion of the Make-ready and run lines on every quote using this press.

Operator labour rate per hour

Hourly cost of the press operator.

When operator wages change or when you switch the cost-allocation model.

The labour portion of Make-ready and run lines.

Over copies

Extra sheets produced beyond the ordered quantity to cover finishing losses.

When the downstream cutter, folder, or stitcher consistently loses more or fewer copies than the default.

The substrate quantity and the finishing handoff count on every quote.

Running spoils %

Extra sheets spoiled during the run, as a percentage of the necessary quantity.

When run experience shows a different waste profile (paper change, ink change, climate change).

The substrate quantity on every quote.

Field

What it controls

When to change this

What depends on it

Plate cost

All-in cost of one plate (material, chemicals, CTP processing).

When your plate supplier changes price, or when you switch plate-making process.

The fixed-cost portion of every offset run. Plate count = colours × parts × surfaces.

Plate-making labour per hour

Hourly cost of the operator who mounts and processes plates.

When prepress wages change or when you reassign the work to a different team.

The plate-making line on every offset quote.

Processor plates per minute

Throughput of the plate processor, in plates per minute.

When you replace the processor or measure a different throughput.

The plate-making labour minutes on every offset quote: plates ÷ processor rate.

Make-ready material cost

Fixed material cost added to the make-ready line beyond the sheet count (e.g., chemistry, blanket wash).

When chemistry or consumable contracts change.

The make-ready cost line on every offset quote.

Spot-colour make-ready fixed

Fixed labour cost added per spot colour beyond CMYK.

When the wash-up and changeover procedure for spot colours changes.

The make-ready labour line on offset quotes that include Pantone or other spot inks.

Paper-coat extra price

Per-coating adder applied to the paper bucket (e.g., Uncoated:30; Silk:61; Gloss:50).

When the press's behaviour on different coatings changes, or when you onboard a new coating.

The paper cost line on every offset quote, scaled by the configured coating amount.

Color units

Number of ink units the press carries (e.g., 2, 4, 5, 8).

When you add or remove an ink unit.

The maximum number of process+spot colours the press can image in one pass before requiring a second pass.

Impose files price

Per-file imposition charge added to the prepress bucket.

When your prepress workflow changes its per-file cost.

The prepress line on every offset quote.

Preflight check price per page

Per-page preflight cost added to the prepress bucket.

When your preflight tooling or contract changes.

The prepress line on every offset quote.

Print method

Imposition strategies the press supports (e.g., Work and Turn).

When you change cylinder dressing or add a new imposition workflow.

The imposition the planning engine produces; only methods in this list are considered.

Field

What it controls

When to change this

What depends on it

Run-speed override table

Per-substrate or per-weight overrides on the default Output per hour.

When a specific paper, weight, or coating consistently runs slower or faster than the default and you want Estimator to model that.

The run-time line on quotes that match the override row; the default speed applies otherwise.

Field

What it controls

When to change this

What depends on it

Volume markup tiers

Quantity-banded markup applied to the press's machine line on top of cost.

When you want to taper your offset margin by run size (e.g., higher markup on short runs).

The machine bucket on quotes that match a tier band.