Excell Combats Economy, Market Shifts with Fujifilm Digital Print Solutions

VALHALLA, NY—Feb. 15, 2011—Fujifilm North America announced that commercial printer Excell Color Graphics of Fort Wayne, ID, has installed digital production and wide-format solutions as part of its strategy to remain competitive. In October 2010, the printer installed a Xerox Color 800 press to accommodate quick turnaround, short-run jobs, and in December it added a Fujifilm Acuity Advance HS UV inkjet flatbed printer, enabling the previously traditional offset shop to produce posters and signage.

“The shift in the economy prompted us to start implementing digital solutions into our workflow to supplement the loss of offset volume,” said Tom Parrot, president, Excell Color Graphics. “Currently, 20 percent of our volume is printed digitally, but 40 percent of the jobs that come through the shop are now printed digitally.”

In 2007, Excell first explored digital printing with the installation of a Xerox DocuColor 5000 press. The Color 800 has now replaced that machine. The device’s primary function in the shop is to fulfill orders for short-run marketing collateral—including postcards and proposals—along with four-color printed envelopes that would normally be printed offset and need to then be converted.

“A perfect example of how this device is ramping up production for us is that this afternoon I received a call at 1 p.m. to produce 100, 28-page photo books by 5 p.m.,” notes Parrot. “Before installing the Xerox 800, I would not have been able to do this, but now I can offer our customers enhanced services for quick turnaround, short-run fulfillment.”

A survey of Parrot’s customers also showed a unanimous need for a wide-format solution which prompted the printer to install the Acuity flatbed inkjet press. While Parrot admits the company is still experimenting with the capabilities of the device and the substrates it can print on, he is confident that the wide-format printer is going to open the door to new markets and enable the shop to better serve its current customer base.

Parrot has seen immediate benefits, as the Acuity has increased the quality of the posters Excell can produce for its customers with its photographic print quality, precise registration and edge-to-edge printing. In the past, when the shop received an orders posters, it would print them offset and mount them to foam core.

“While these are large investments, in today’s climate this digital equipment will play a significant role in our strategy to meet the needs of the market,” Parrot explained. “If I’m going to stay in business, I better find some cool ways to print, and unique substrates to print on, to keep our customers interested. The digital devices are giving us this competitive advantage, keeping us relevant, and are also putting us on the cutting edge of the industry.”

“Traditional offset printers are finding ways to remain competitive in this changing print landscape,” said Todd Zimmerman, vice president of sales and marketing, Graphic Systems Division, Fujifilm North America Corporation. “Those who are adopting digital and wide format solutions to their workflows will flourish because they are adjusting their business strategy to the current needs of the marketplace, which are and will continue to be short-run, fast-turnaround, high-quality printing.”

About Excell Color Graphics
Excell Color Graphics has been in business since 1990 with a focus on color separations and film production. By 1997, the company’s focus widened to include print production. Today, Excell Color Graphics operates out of 27,000 square foot print facility. To learn more about Excell Color Graphics, visit www.excellcg.com.

About Fujifilm
Fujifilm North America Corp., a marketing subsidiary of Fujifilm Corp., consists of five operating divisions and one subsidiary company. The Imaging Division sells consumer and commercial photographic products and services including film, one-time-use cameras, online photo services and fulfillment, digital printing equipment and service. The Electronic Imaging Division markets consumer digital cameras. The Motion Picture Division provides motion picture film, and the Graphic Systems Division supplies products and services to the printing industry. The Optical Devices Division provides binoculars, and optical lenses for closed circuit television, videography, cinematography, broadcast and industrial markets.For more information, please visit www.fujifilm.com/northamerica.

Source: Company press release.