First Edge Adds Four Canon imagePRESS Color Presses

LAKE SUCCESS, NY—January 31, 2013—Canon Solutions America, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canon U.S.A., today announced that First Edge Solutions, a multichannel business and marketing communications print and document management service provider, has installed four Canon imagePRESS C7010VP digital color printing systems as a means to close the gap between digital and traditional offset printing while also supporting the company’s environmental efforts.

An innovator in the world of multimedia communications, Milwaukee, WI-based First Edge Solutions has spent the last decade redefining how companies large and small share information with their customers. Committed to delivering complete communications solutions for their clients, First Edge Solutions partners with its clients to devise customized programs that not only meet their business needs, but streamline their costs as well.

First Edge accomplishes meeting business objectives while cutting costs by strategically applying data to create targeted relevant print messages, then connecting those messages with other forms of digital, mobile, electronic, and online media. This ensures for First Edge Solutions clients that the right messages are delivered to the right people at the right time. Increasingly, the “right time” requires turnarounds of 24 hours or less.

“Our company’s value proposition is based on the premise of moving data better, more efficiently, and in a more protected manner than any other company out there,” said Robert Kraft, president and CEO of First Edge Solutions. “Whether it’s print, direct mail, social media, e-mail, or mobile, we are helping our clients communicate better and faster than their competitors.”

As it earned a place on the Inc. 5000 List of America’s Fastest Growing Companies this past year, demand for services grew significantly for First Edge Solutions, running “three shifts hard” in all three of its production facilities—Atlanta, Milwaukee and Phoenix.

While continued growth seemed a foregone conclusion, the company recognized the need to upgrade its digital color printing system if it was going to take advantage of the myriad of opportunities the market was presenting. To meet this increasing demand, First Edge Solutions selected the Canon imagePRESS C7010VP to be installed in all three locations.

Vibrant Color Output with an Offset Look and Feel
Innovative companies like First Edge Solutions are choosing the Canon imagePRESS C7010VP because of its stunning image quality and legendary service and support.

“The Canon imagePRESS C7010VP was the ideal choice for First Edge Solutions because it delivers the perfect combination of speed, throughput, and reliability,” said Francis A. McMahon, vice president of Marketing, Production Print Solutions division of Canon Solutions America. “The Canon installation will enable First Edge Solutions to continue taking on tight deadlines and demanding volumes with confidence, knowing the Canon technology will deliver the results on time and on budget.”

First Edge Solutions was impressed with the way the Canon imagePRESS C7010VP has closed the gap between digital and traditional offset printing. “You really can’t tell the difference between the quality of traditional offset printing versus the digital of our 7010,” said Mike Herald, VP of Manufacturing for First Edge Solutions. “That gives me the flexibility to react to our customers’ needs.”

Superior Support and Sustainability
Minimal maintenance demands, coupled with a reduced carbon footprint, were also key decisions for First Edge Solutions, which prides itself on its commitment to preserving the environment by maintaining strong, green and environmental standards in all of its manufacturing processes and operations. “With Canon Solutions America as our partner, we trust that we can honestly address environmental types of issues and ensure that we are doing the right thing as a business,” Mike Herald continued.

First Edge Solutions was impressed with the attributes of the Canon imagePRESS C7010VP, but it was the world-class service that backs Canon products that ultimately proved to be the deciding factor. “Other companies are just trying to sell you a box, but Canon Solutions America is dedicated to helping us meet our customers’ expectations and needs,” Robert Kraft continued “We are strategically aligned with Canon Solutions America, not only in the present, but certainly looking forward; as they continue to bring new technology to market, we will definitely be onboard with that from the start.”

Since its introduction in 2007, customers have made bold statements about how the Canon color imagePRESS Series has helped build their business and better serve their customers. Canon prides itself on partnering with customers and understanding their needs. Designed to deliver the highest digital color quality, power through the toughest deadlines, and expand a commercial printer’s job mix, the Canon imagePRESS C7010VP combines advanced digital color technology with world class Canon Solutions America support. A high-volume printer, it produces vibrant, top-quality color output with an offset look and feel, all while maintaining a consistent speed of up to 4,500 images per hour—on any supported media. More information on the Canon imagePRESS C7010VP can be found here.

About First Edge Solutions
Founded in 2003, Milwaukee-based First Edge Solutions is a leader in integrated marketing communications and print and document services built on quality-driven business solutions, superior customer support, and first-class execution efficiencies. From its proprietary software to its three world-class manufacturing facilities, First Edge has what it takes to bring its customers a seamless integration of all their external digital and print communications—from conception to fulfillment. First Edge’s clients span a wide variety of industries, including insurance, health care, financial, manufacturing, real estate, education, and sports entertainment.

About Canon Solutions America
Combining the strengths of the former Canon Business Solutions, Inc. and Océ North America, Inc., Canon Solutions America provides industry leading enterprise services, advanced production print technology and large-format solutions supported by exceptional professional service offerings. Canon Solutions America helps companies of all sizes to improve their business by increasing efficiency, controlling costs and becoming more environmentally conscious. A wholly owned subsidiary of Canon U.S.A, Inc. Canon Solutions America is headquartered in Lake Success, NY and has nearly 7,000 employees in 130 offices across the country.

Source: Canon.