How Kyocera Inkjet Transforms Commercial Printers

Inkjet technology continues to advance into commercial printing spaces, and the growing prominence of sheet-fed inkjet systems is part of what is making profound business transformations possible. The TASKalfa Pro 15000c, an impressively equipped sheet-fed inkjet system from Kyocera Document Solutions, is helping commercial printing companies serving numerous verticals continue their digital transformations with technologies that complement changing production and business goals. In today’s commercial printing sector, where quick turns, short runs, and high quality are all expected realities, the capabilities of sheet-fed inkjet have become powerful opportunity generators.

The Sheet-fed Inkjet Opportunity

Credit: Kyocera

Sheet-fed inkjet technology is on the rise. According to a recent study by I.T. Strategies, the worldwide volume of sheet-fed inkjet, which includes systems for B-1, B-2, B-3, and A-3 formats, is currently just under 60 million sheets. By 2028, the findings indicate that this number will grow by a CAGR of 34% over the next five years. While sheet-fed systems will continue to be important for transactional, direct-mail, book, and general commercial printing, the study found the most significant growth will be for general commercial applications. According to data presented by NAPCO Research, 39% of companies planning to make a capital investment in the next year say they would do so by investing in high-speed inkjet. Simply put, inkjet is ascendant.

“As print providers seek to drive new business value by leveraging variable data and personalization, they also want strong productivity,” says Jose Estebanez, Vice President of Corporate Marketing at Kyocera Document Solutions America, Inc. “Sheet-fed inkjet ticks both boxes: it enables us to deliver strong print quality on a wide range of stocks with productivity that allows business to attract new customers by offering on-demand printing."

It’s no secret that today’s printers are looking to new technologies to use disruption in their favor – the game-changing benefits that can translate into new business opportunities for growth – without significantly disrupting production. The TASKalfa Pro 15000c offers robust capabilities with a small footprint, and a straightforward user interface that eases the challenge of finding and training operators.

The TASKalfa Pro 15000c offers robust capabilities with a small footprint, and a straightforward user interface that eases the challenge of finding and training operators. | Credit: Kyocera

Cases in Point

The benefits of Kyocera’s sheet-fed inkjet technology are perhaps best illustrated by the experiences of companies using the TASKalfa Pro 15000c.

CyberCopy

For CyberCopy, an Oregon-based commercial printing operation focused primarily on local colleges, not-for-profit organizations, and small to medium local businesses, the move to sheet-fed inkjet allowed it to take on more projects and grow the business. Prior to making this transformative investment, the company had struggled with inconsistent color during larger jobs, as well as quality differences from stock to stock. By installing the Kyocera TASKalfa Pro 15000c, the company was able to solve its challenges while increasing productivity. Being able to accept more jobs meant an improved growth trajectory. Brian McGinley, General Manager, said, “Overall, the TASKalfa Pro 15000c is the perfect fit for CyberCopy.”

JHL Digital Direct

As a company serving the direct mail space, Wisconsin-based JHL Digital Direct – one of the top direct mail providers in the Midwest – knew that inkjet was the path forward. Their challenge was to find the sheet-fed inkjet system that most effectively met the company’s production needs. Affordability was key, and so was reliability. The company’s technology quest led to the TASKalfa Pro 15000c because it was found to be faster, better, and less expensive to run. Furthermore, it enabled the company to print shells and variable data elements simultaneously, thus eliminating the need for pre-printed shells. With the new system in place, JHL Digital Direct has experienced production savings of between 30% and 50%. About the system, President John Leek said, “The quality is always there … it’s an excellent fit for the market.”

MCS

At MCS, a Maryland-based company that designs, manufactures, and sells systems for the mail manufacturing inkjet industry, company management realized inkjet was its path to enhanced competitiveness. They saw the TASKalfa Pro 15000c as a “game-changing” device that enabled print jobs requiring personalization on a large scale. MCS tested the device with two trusted customers, both of which were impressed by its quality output and reliability. They also lauded its extensive eco-credentials, its exceptional usability, and ease of service. Many parts can be replaced without the need for a technician. President David Loos said, “The experience of bringing the TASKalfa Pro 15000c to market has been very positive.”

At its core, the TASKalfa Pro 15000c is designed to provide a strong return on investment and drive business growth. | Credit: Kyocera

Affordability Meets High Speed, Quality

As one of a variety of choices in today's growing sheet-fed inkjet market, the TASKalfa Pro 15000c – even at its base – possesses exceptional capabilities.

It can:

• Allow for strong variable data and personalization at a speed of 146 full-color letter pages per minute. What’s more, inks can be replenished during a print run, minimizing downtime.
• Take advantage of Kyocera’s printhead technology to deliver 600x600 dpi resolution. This brings greater sharpness to text and fine lines, a strong color gamut, and smooth gradients.
• Handle paper sizes up to 13" x 19.2", providing exceptional results on uncoated, inkjet-treated, or inkjet-coated stocks. By being able to use a wider range of stocks, businesses using the Kyocera system have access to a wider range of opportunities.

Credit: Kyocera

At its core, the TASKalfa Pro 15000c is designed to provide a strong return on investment and drive business growth. And the machine is backed by Kyocera’s dedicated support team.

Increasingly, printers are seeing the strong advantage of inkjet over toner-based systems, and for numerous reasons. Estebanez says, “One attractive advantage of inkjet over toner-based systems is the ability to avoid costly maintenance and support charges. But it goes beyond that. Users quickly discover the production capabilities of inkjet exceed that of toner, downtime is greatly minimized, and the color and print quality are exemplary. It’s complete control over workflows made easy.”