Canon Digital Press Focuses on Demanding Students

Loughborough University is the UK's first educational establishment to install Canon's flagship digital press, the imagePRESS C7000VP

Loughborough University's Media Services print unit will use the digital colour press to produce a range of high quality, short and long-run print jobs, as well as cutting-edge variable data work to promote events and target students.

The imagePRESS is part of a large investment by the university to improve production facilities at its in-house print department, with speed and efficiency being the main buying priorities.

Glenys Morley, print manager, Loughborough University said: "We saw the imagePRESS C7000VP at Ipex along with other models that we were considering".

"The imagePRESS C7000VP was the only press that had it all - that could produce variable data work very quickly on a wide variety of substrates".

"It was essential that the new press could accommodate heavy stock as we use it for lots of short-run magazine covers as well as marketing materials such as posters, flyers, postcards, business cards and Christmas cards".

Loughborough's in-house print department is staffed by 17 people and is open to students, staff and external visitors.

The department produces a range of products from 'while you wait' copies to entire marketing campaigns for external conferences.

It is part of the university's Media Services department, which employs a total of 50 people and provides a range of services including design, photography, multimedia, teaching support, conference and event support and mailroom services.

The press will be used for variable data work and will allow the different departments to promote conferences and events.

The print department is currently working on an internal marketing campaign to promote the imagePRESS C7000VP's capabilities to all departments.

"We're also working with Canon and Objectif Lune to introduce PlanetPress, giving us the ability to produce a variety of variable data documents in-house".

"This will be used by departments to produce targeted collateral to students".

"For example, if there's a shortage of particular students for a conference or event, we could run a targeted campaign to attract them".

"Personalisation improves response rates, so this is good for the university and students", added Morley.

The imagePRESS C7000VP has replaced a Xerox 2045 and sits alongside the university's existing fleet of Canon production equipment, including an iR150VP high-volume monochrome engine, CLC 3220 colour printer and iR6570 monochrome multifunctional printer (MFP).

Ben Milford, head of professional Print Marketing, Canon Business Solutions, said: "Loughborough is the first educational establishment to recognise the potential of the imagePRESS C7000VP".

"They are very much pioneers in the use of variable data to target students through innovative campaigns".

"Just as many private companies use personalised data to increase response rates, so too is Loughborough University by harnessing information held on their databases".

"We look forward to working with them and providing the right solutions for their needs ".

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