Product category:
Inkjet, Laser, Digital, Thermal, Graphics, Wide Format Printing Systems
News Release from: NexPress Solutions | Subject: Nexpress 2100, Kodak Digimaster 9110
Edited by the Printingtalk Editorial
Team on 30 June 2005
Kodak Digital Presses Help Print Firm's
Evolution
Imaging Data Solutions (IDS), formerly known as Print24, is planning the installation of two Kodak Nexpress 2100 digital colour presses to fuel its growth plans.
Imaging Data Solutions (IDS), formerly known as Print24, is planning the installation of two Kodak Nexpress 2100 digital colour presses to fuel its growth plans IDS has also augmented its mono production capacity following the installation of a sixth Kodak Digimaster digital production system in January
This article was originally published on Printingtalk on 20 Oct 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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To achieve IDS's full-service objectives, capacity and cost-efficiency became critical elements in laying a solid technical foundation.
In 2003, IDS replaced several devices with five Kodak Digimaster 9110 digital production systems, followed by a Kodak Digimaster E150 digital production system in January, after which the company reported an improvement in speed, greyscale quality and reliability.
Jaco Kotze, IDS's managing director, commented: "We'd been observing the technology over the past few years, so we knew the capability of the Nexpress equipment.
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I have a lot of respect for the approach that Kodak has developed to work with and support their customers.
They're not just dropping boxes all over South Africa - Kodak works as a partner with their clients.
When we looked at fixed price of purchase and the actual cost per image, Kodak came in with a much better offer than the competition." The Digimaster 9110s at IDS produce an average of 1.8 million images per machine, with up to 2.2 million during peak production periods.
"We were surprised by the volume that the machines can handle - we run 24 hours.
We really achieve record numbers with our systems.
Basically the equipment pays for itself," added Kotze.
The ability to handle a wide range of substrates, even litho and recycled stock, has reaped important cost savings for IDS, said Kotze, who continued: "The documentation products we print are typically retained for only one year, so a top quality paper is not required.
We can use a variety of paper qualities in our Digimasters, so we can save on our direct expenses in printing volume as well as the paper being used." Thanks to their modular design, the Digimasters can be configured individually, with a range of paper-feed and finishing capabilities.
The E150 is a high-volume production system with claimed speeds of up to 150 pages-per-minute.
Due to its paper handling it accepts a wider variety of standard and custom paper sizes, stocks and finishes than previous models.
The 9110 operates at 110 pages-per-minute and also handles a variety of standard paper sizes and stocks and can optionally support additional sizes, added the company.
With the acquisition of two Nexpress 2100 presses, in addition to its mono production systems, IDS plans to offer web-to-print services, anticipating the expansion of South Africa's internet infrastructure.
That added capability would transform IDS's strategy from business-to-business marketing to a business-to-customer focus.
Jaco Kotze observed: "Kodak is clearly leading the market in South Africa in helping their customers to grow with colour equipment.
Kodak's customers are able to gain marketshare, making it easy to realise a quick return on their investment.
I think it's the right approach." IDS is a subsidiary of the Naspers Group, a South African media company.
When IDS was founded in 1996 it served as a short run application within a Naspers litho production facility, handling short-runs for a book printing division of Naspers.
Kotze explained how the company evolved from being a basic print supplier to become a full digital service provider: "We have acquired a considerable base of intellectual IT capital in our business, therefore we decided to broaden our value proposition.
For us, it is all about applying technology to make the process management as effortless as possible for our customers." He continued: "Our new name, Imaging Data Systems, better reflects our full range of capabilities as a DDSP - a digital data service provider - not just a printer.
Our strategy is to move to a consultative selling approach." IDS handles the production of security vouchers for retail clients as well as offering complete operational documentation support for 47 hospitals.
The firm can also design specialised software systems that improve the operational efficiency within a customer's organization.
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