EPM Print Group, a Queensland-based commercial printer, has modernised its ageing production setup with the help of Konica Minolta Australia – in turn overhauling its fragmented mix of legacy machines with a fleet of high-performance AccurioPress digital printers.
Beginning as a digital print shop on the Sunshine Coast in 2006, EPM Print Group now offers end-to-end services including digital and offset printing, signage, large format work, direct mail, finishing, and promotional products.
The company focuses on fast turnaround and high quality, making it a one-stop shop for branded print and communications solutions.
EPM was reaching the limits of its existing production setup, which relied on a fragmented mix of equipment from multiple suppliers, and the ageing machines made it difficult to keep up with customer expectations for faster turnaround.
At the same time, EPM’s limited digital capacity and lack of long-sheet printing capability restricted the types of work produced in-house, forcing reliance on offset processes that didn’t suit modern print demands.
EPM knew it needed to consolidate suppliers to improve reliability, and invest in faster, more advanced digital print technology to stay competitive. By addressing this, the company created a more streamlined, future-ready print environment that could scale with its growth ambitions.
Several suppliers were considered to compare options, however, EPM chose Konica Minolta, based on the company’s advanced technology and proactive partnership approach.
“The biggest issue for us was support, as that directly impacts our ability to deliver on time. We needed a partner we could rely on; one that understood our business and could help us move into the next stage of production,” Scott Lehnhoff, director of EPM, tells Print21.
Konica Minolta overhauled EPM’s production and consolidated its fragmented setup into a single, high-performing digital fleet. Long-sheet printing capability was also brought in-house for the first time.
The fleet includes an AccurioPress C4080 for high-speed colour, an AccurioPress 6136 for black-and-white, along with a new AccurioPress C14010S, through Konica Minolta’s local dealer EFEX, becoming the first Australian company to install the new press.
Together, the new fleet has delivered significantly faster turnaround times and higher output speeds, letting the team complete more jobs per day without compromising on the quality of the work.
“EPM is a great example of how the right digital platform can unlock speed, flexibility and new creative opportunities,” Andrew Cocker, general manager, Production and Industrial Print at Konica Minolta Australia, tells Print21.
“By consolidating their production environment and investing in advanced digital technology, EPM has built a future-ready operation that supports faster turnaround today, while positioning the business for long-term growth.”
Together, these improvements brought about by digital print technology has established a strong foundation for future digital growth, positioning EPM to expand its capacity and explore new opportunities as customer demand continues to evolve.
“We’re looking seriously at the Konica Minolta B2 Inkjet Press. That’s where we want to head – with full automation through to prepress and production. The foundation we’ve built with Konica Minolta puts us in the perfect position to take that next step,” Lehnhoff concludes.