Consolidated Graphics Buys Three Xeikon 6000s for High-Speed Digital Printing
HOUSTON/ITASCA, IL—July 10, 2008—Consolidated Graphics Inc. (NYSE: CGX), one of the largest North American general commercial printing companies, has purchased three Xeikon 6000 1,200 dpi digital color presses. With annual revenues of $1.2 billion, Consolidated Graphics has 70 printing businesses in the United States and Canada, as well as a facility in Europe, and is a renowned leader in the use of digital printing technology. The unique combination of uncompromising quality (1,200 dpi at 4 bits/spot), size capabilities, speed, and productivity offered by the Xeikon 6000 made it the obvious choice.
The company took its first Xeikon 6000 press into production in June of last year. The plan is to upgrade this press to 1,200 dpi as well, to bring it to the same level. The three additional presses will be used to print high-quality dust jackets for photo books and will provide the high-quality capacity required to meet the sharp increase in demand for the company’s already significant photo book printing application.
“The unique capabilities of the Xeikon presses in general, and the Xeikon 6000 in particular, are key enablers for the development of even better and more sophisticated applications and profitable business opportunities,” says Joe R. Davis, Chairman and CEO at Consolidated Graphics.
“This deal is another important step in our strategic relationship,” says Bram Bourgeois, President and CEO of Punch Graphix Americas, “We are delighted that a company of this caliber has chosen to continue using our technology. Business is clearly booming for them and we in turn can provide new, advanced technologies to support their growth. Their choice is an excellent endorsement of our benchmark print capabilities. I look forward to a long and fruitful relationship as both our companies continue to flourish.”
Consolidated Graphics’ sophisticated application requires a sophisticated solution. Being web-fed and with an imaging width of up to 19.7 inches and virtually unlimited image lengths, the Xeikon 6000 offers exactly the size and format capabilities Consolidated Graphics is looking for. The Xeikon 6000 is not only fast (39 fpm/170 letter-size ppm), with an uptime of 80%, it is extremely robust and reliable, and therefore ideally suited to support Consolidated Graphics’ growth.
As important as format flexibility and productivity, is the consistently superior print quality achieved by the Xeikon 6000. The engine is now equipped with a 1,200 dpi imaging head, which was initially developed for the Xeikon 8000. This revolutionary, high- precision LED-based imaging head combines true 1,200 dpi resolution and 1,200x3,600 dpi addressability with variable dot density. The unique combination of high resolution, high addressability, and multi-bit depth results in the finest commercial print quality with exceptionally sharp and crisp details, superior definition, and smooth tone transitions. Given the application, it is obvious why image quality is paramount.
The photo book application also imposes stringent requirements on color management; the inside pages being printed on different presses. The Xeikon 6000 comes with the latest generation of Xeikon’s unique X-800 digital front-end, and has exactly what it takes to meet these requirements. Based on open standards, the X-800 enables the implementation of flexible and fully automated workflows in any production environment while its scalability makes it the benchmark for high-end variable data production and allows it to grow with a company’s future needs. More important still, the X-800 offers ICC color management, supporting CMYK as well as RGB workflows, and allows post-RIP color adjustment, minimizing downtime while offering great flexibility, ensuring a perfect match between the images on the dust jacket and the ones inside the photo book.
Finally, another essential requirement imposed by Consolidated Graphics’ specific application, is being able to guarantee quality and color consistency regardless of where a dust jacket is printed, as the new Xeikon 6000 presses will be installed at different production plants. With two in-line densitometers and high-performance process algorithms, providing uniform and accurate colors and perfect color registration, the Xeikon 6000 guarantees absolute color consistency, not only from job to job, but also from press to press.
About Consolidated Graphics
Consolidated Graphics (CGX), headquartered in Houston, Texas, is one of North America’s leading general commercial printing companies. With 70 printing facilities strategically located across 27 states and Canada, CGX offers an unmatched geographic footprint with extensive capabilities supported by an unparalleled level of convenience, efficiency and service. With locations in or near virtually every major U.S. market, as well as Toronto, CGX offers highly responsive service and convenient access to a vast capabilities network through a single point of contact at the local level. More information is available at www.consolidatedgraphics.com
About Xeikon
A pioneer in digital printing, Xeikon designs, develops and delivers high-end digital color printing systems for the global commercial, document printing and industrial market segments. These systems are composed of advanced web-fed printing engines using LED-array-based, dry toner electrophotography, open workflow software, exclusive toner and other consumables. Production and R&D are based in Belgium, its solutions being distributed and supported through a worldwide sales and service network. Xeikon is a division of Punch Graphix. For more information, visit www.xeikon.com
About Punch Graphix
Punch Graphix provides innovative, competitive and environmentally friendly imaging and printing solutions for the global graphics industry. Under the Xeikon brand name, Punch Graphix designs, develops and delivers high-end digital color printing systems, software and consumables for the commercial, document printing and industrial markets. Under the basysPrint brand, Punch Graphix designs, develops and delivers mid to high-end imaging systems for the offset prepress commercial markets. With a clear- minded focus on R&D, Punch Graphix is dedicated to customer satisfaction and aims to deliver cost-effective graphic excellence that goes beyond all expectations. www.punchgraphix.com
