DIGITAL digest
Océ Customer Center Is a New Florida Attraction
BOCA RATON, FL—Just prior to Graph Expo 2008, Océ North America, Production Printing Systems, invited industry journalists and analysts down to its Florida facilities for a tour of the newly opened Customer Experience Center and to get a company update. Mal Baboyian, president, commented that the center was an example of the strategic investments the company planned to continue making, despite the challenging business climate.
“You can’t stand still, even in a down economic time,” Baboyian said. He explained that Océ will have three areas of focus going forward—development and innovation within its core business, extension of its reach into new markets and expansion of market coverage. Digital book printing is one of the hottest opportunities and is transforming the industry, added the company exec.
Display areas in the center cover the company’s entire product line, from electrophotographic (EP) and ink-jet document printing systems to wide-format ink-jet printers and software.
A new MICR ink option via a fifth DigiDot head, set for delivery in early 2009, and multi-level printing with variable dot sizes were already being demonstrated on the center’s high-speed JetStream color ink-jet press. Three models—JetStream 750, 1500 and 3000—were added to the product family at Drupa, boosting the line’s top speed to 2,865 ipm (letter-sized).
At that time, the company was still on track to deliver the first ColorStream 10000 color electrophotographic presses before the end of the year, Baboyian noted. Rated at a maximum 172 ipm in color, this model offers a higher image quality and is intended for graphic arts applications.
During the event, it was announced that Strahm Automation and Mailing Services in Kansas City, MO, had agreed to acquire a ColorStream 10000 to streamline its operations by getting away from warehousing pre-printed color shells for the production of statements, invoices and customer correspondence.
Also in the offing is a new Graphic Arts Alliance Program intended to help offset printers’ transitions to digital services and to help existing digital shops sell better. Current Océ customers are taking part in the development of the program, which is expected to provide members with online resources, regional seminars and a customer advisory council.
TransPromo Application Development Services (TADS) is another component of Océ’s professional services. The manufacturer is working in partnership with NEPS LLC and Art Plus Technology to assist customers with the development and execution of transpromo programs.
Wide-format printing solutions for display graphics and technical/CAD applications have their own display room within the Customer Experience Center. New to the product line is the Arizona 350 GT UV flatbed printer that features support for white ink and a top print speed of 239 square feet/hr. on rigid media (up to 49x98? and 1.89? thick) and 205 square feet/hr. using the roll-to-roll media (87? wide) option.
It features VariaDot technology, which varies dot sizes from 6 to 42 picoliters for sharp image detail and smooth solids.
Also on display was the 42? ColorWave 600 color printer introduced this past summer. It is the first device to use the company’s CrystalPoint technology, which jets dry toner contained in solid TonerPearls via a phase-change process. (For more details, see page 54 in the August 2008 edition of Printing Impressions.)
The timing of the event enabled Océ to preview several of the announcements it planned to make at Graph Expo, including:
• Launch of the VarioPrint 4000 monochrome cut-sheet printer line, which is targeted to mid-volume environments and as a backup machine for shops with a VP 6000 model. Kicking off the series is the 120 ppm VP 4120 model.
• Introduction of the CS665 cut-sheet color printer as a replacement for the CS650 Pro and CS620, starting in early 2009. It outputs 65 ppm using polymerized toner and features a controlled environment with dehumidification, air separation and double-sheet detector in the paper drawer for more reliable operation.
• Release of upgrades to the PRISMA workflow solution, including Device Manager for optimization of print production in real-time, TrueProof soft proofing version 3.2 with support for variable data, PRISMA- access online print management for internal job submission, and PRISMAweb version 5 with a revamped interface and efficiency enhancements.
Business Climate on The Agenda For Dscoop4
CHICAGO—Joe Theismann, former MVP quarterback in the NFL and now a broadcaster, will be the keynote speaker at the Digital Solutions Cooperative’s (Dscoop) upcoming Dscoop4 Annual Conference. The event will take place February 19 to 21 at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Orlando.
Dscoop is a user-driven community of HP Indigo press owners and operators. Vyomesh “VJ” Joshi, HP’s executive vice president, Imaging and Printing, will also be a featured speaker.
The overall focus of the conference will be to help attendees navigate in a time of economic uncertainty, declining marketing budgets and tougher competition. Topics of the in-depth educational sessions will include financial ROI, emerging technologies such as Website optimization and using Google Analytics, green initiatives and marketing strategy. There will also be technical and label/packaging tracks.
In addition, attendees will be able to see the latest technology from HP and its partner providers in a products and services showcase.
Further details and online registration for the conference are available at www.dscoop4.org.
digital bytes
PALO ALTO, CA—HP has opened a distribution center for HP Indigo presses in nearby Hayward. Initially, it will provide faster delivery of spare parts to the Western region of the United States and Canada.
HOUSTON—Since entering the photo products market in 2005, Consolidated Graphics has built up a fleet of more than 30 Kodak Nexpress digital color presses with the recent addition of several S3000 models. These new devices will enhance its operations in Prague, the Czech Republic and the United States.
SUSSEX, WI—La Crosse Litho Supply has introduced a new process to assist customers with implementing the G7 printing process controls. ColorLink QMS (Quality Management System) is said to enable printers to perform press tests on live work for real-time analysis of color consistency, accuracy and adherence to the G7 specification. PI
