Advantages of InkJet Technology (and Video)

Technology is Fun!

While at lunch during the last National Print Owners Association conference, I sat among other owners and we enjoyed print small talk. While sharing details about our shops, my eyes lit up as I detailed the new technology on our floor. With a giddy smile, I looked around and said, “I’m sorry. My print-geek is showing.”

“It’s alright,” I was assured, “You’re safe here.”

We laughed and continued our conversation; it’s fun to talk to people who “get it.”

At that NPOA event, Pocket Folders Fast featured a folder with digital print, digital die-cutting, and variable digital foil with UV effects. It’s no wonder I was giddy. We’ve shared here about the digital foil and UV effects. And here we explored digital die-cutting. Today, it’s time to talk about the advantages inkjet technology brings to the mix for you and your clients.

Quality

As a wholesale printer, our investments are driven by the needs of our customers. Some of the requirements are a “given” and understood all along. Of course, quality print is the first benefit. What I love about the inkjet quality the most is the color consistency, first sheet to last, one side to second side, folder to insert pieces; it is unbeatable. Obviously, quality is an assumed requirement on every job. Still, there has been a learning curve of acceptance regarding digital print and it’s been fun showing off this technology’s capabilities.

Speed to Finish

The other required benefit is the speed. Not the run speed of the press itself. The Fuji 720S runs 2700 sheets per hour, that’s respectable, but won’t win any print drag races against an offset press. No, where the speed factor of this press reigns is the speed-to-finish. With most of what we produce shipping in one day, it’s critical to have these sheets dry and ready for the next process so when a sheet comes off the press it moves directly to the next piece of equipment to finish. It’s dry and ready for UV flood coating or UV effects, die-cutting, cutting to stitch and trim – whatever! There is no need for a coating on jobs that come off of this press.

No Coating Required

Coating is simply an aesthetic option. Even then, if a piece is heavy/full ink coverage, there is even less reason to add an aqueous coat, because the ink is so shiny that the piece looks coated, even when it’s not. The cost savings for this is an important tool to keep you competitive in the market.

Short Runs and Variable Data

The next feature driven by demand is the cost-effective options of short print runs. One of the questions I get most often at trade shows is, “What is your minimum?” We’ve come to call minimums, “Suggested Minimum” because literally, any quantity is possible when using digital technology. As the marketing expert for your customer, short runs allow you to provide options for every project, from mass mailings to a meeting of 12.

Speaking of that meeting of 12, shouldn’t every piece be customized with variable data?

The answer is Yes!

Yes, it should. A name, a picture, a color…variable options abound and you can provide that magic with digital print.

In Action

If you’d like to see this press in action, check out this short video featuring the Fuji press and our team: