The "Speed" Factor: Printing presses and slitters run at incredibly high speeds. A 10-minute stop can delay an entire customer order.
The "Scrap" Link: Maintenance directly affects quality. A misaligned roller causes web breaks and waste. You need OEE to track these losses.
The Top 7: We review Fabrico, EFI, Label Traxx, and others to help you manage maintenance in the high-pressure world of print.
Maintenance in the Printing and Converting industry (Packaging, Labels, Corrugated) is a race against time.
Your assets: Flexo Presses, Offset Litho, Slitters, and Die Cutters are precision instruments.
If a Bearing vibrates, print registration drifts (Quality Loss).
If a Motor trips, the web breaks (Downtime + Scrap).
If a Roller is dirty, you ruin the substrate.
Generic facility software doesn't understand "Web Breaks" or "Make-Ready Time." You need Printing-Specific Maintenance Software that links Machine Health to OEE.
Here are the 7 Best CMMS Software Tools for Printing & Converting in 2026.
Best For: Printers who want to link Press Speed to Maintenance.
Fabrico is the ideal choice for high-speed converting because it bridges the gap between Production (Press Operators) and Maintenance (Technicians).
Web Break Detection: Fabrico connects to the press PLC. If the line stops (Web Break), it logs the event automatically. It forces the operator to tag the root cause (e.g., "Tension Control Failure"), creating a Work Order for maintenance.
Make-Ready Optimization (SMED): Changeovers are the biggest loss in printing. Fabrico provides digital "Make-Ready Checklists" to ensure the press is set up correctly and safely (LOTO) every time.
Roller & Anilox Tracking: You can track the life of specific rollers or Anilox rolls using Fabrico’s asset hierarchy. Trigger a "Deep Clean" or "Regrind" work order based on impression counts (Cycles).
Visual Quality: If a defect is found (e.g., color variation), the operator snaps a photo in Fabrico. The maintenance team sees exactly what the defect looks like and knows which station on the press to check.
The Verdict: If you want to reduce scrap and increase press speed, Fabrico is the integrated choice.
Best For: Full Print ERP/MIS.
EFI is the giant of the printing industry. Their ERP systems often include maintenance modules.
Pros: Total integration with the print job schedule. It knows exactly which job is running on which press. Excellent for costing.
Cons: The maintenance module is often an afterthought. It is clunky for technicians to use compared to a dedicated mobile CMMS. It focuses on Job Costing, not Machine Reliability.
The Niche: Print MIS/ERP.
Best For: Label converters.
Label Traxx is designed specifically for the narrow-web label industry.
Pros: Tailored for label workflows. It understands die inventory and roll stock management perfectly.
Cons: Like EFI, it is a business management tool. It lacks the deep "Condition Monitoring" (Vibration/Heat) capabilities needed to predict motor failures on the press.
The Niche: Label Printing.
Best For: Automated packaging lines.
If your converting lines are heavily automated (robotic palletizers, automated winders), Fiix is a strong enterprise option.
Pros: Strong integration with Rockwell Automation hardware. Good for tracking the lifecycle costs of expensive assets.
Cons: It is a generalist manufacturing tool. It doesn't have "Print" specific terminology out of the box (you have to configure it).
The Niche: Automated Converting.
Best For: Microsoft-centric print shops.
PrintVis is the printing overlay for Microsoft Dynamics 365.
Pros: If you run Microsoft for everything, this keeps your data in one place.
Cons: It relies on the Dynamics "Field Service" architecture, which (as we discussed in other guides) is not ideal for plant maintenance. It is better for scheduling jobs than fixing presses.
The Niche: Microsoft Ecosystem.
Best For: Vibration analysis on high-speed rollers.
In printing, vibration is the enemy of quality. eMaint connects to Fluke sensors to monitor bearing health.
Pros: Early warning of roller failure. If a main drive bearing starts to wobble, eMaint flags it before it causes a registration error.
Cons: The interface is dated. It lacks the "Make-Ready" workflow tools that help operators speed up changeovers.
The Niche: Condition Monitoring.
Best For: Smaller print shops and facility tasks.
UpKeep is great for managing the facility side (Lighting, HVAC, Forklifts) of a print shop.
Pros: Very easy to use. Great for tracking inventory of generic parts (rags, solvents, belts).
Cons: It lacks the OEE depth. It doesn't natively track "Impression Counts" or "Linear Feet" to trigger maintenance cycles.
The Niche: Small Shop & Facilities.
| Feature | Fabrico | EFI | Label Traxx | Fiix | UpKeep |
| Impression Counting | ✅ Native | ✅ Native | ✅ Native | ⚠️ Custom | ❌ Manual |
| Web Break Logic | ✅ OEE | ❌ No | ❌ No | ⚠️ Add-on | ❌ No |
| Mobile Experience | Excellent | Poor | Average | Good | Excellent |
| Make-Ready Tools | ✅ SMED | ⚠️ Basic | ⚠️ Basic | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Cost | Value | High | Mid | High | Low |
In printing, you make money when the press is running at speed.
Choose EFI or Label Traxx if you need to manage customer quotes and job scheduling.
Choose UpKeep if you just need to fix the building.
Choose Fabrico if you are a Production Manager. If you need to stop web breaks, reduce make-ready time, and keep your presses running at top speed using real-time data, Fabrico is the specialized solution.
Print more, fix less.
[Book a Demo with Fabrico] to see how we handle high-speed converting maintenance.
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