ACT printer goes Platinum

CanPrint Communications traded in a traditional offset press for the latest in digital printing technology from HP Indigo.








It was a matter of timing for David Daniel, managing director of CanPrint Communications in Canberra. He had just bought a second Speedmaster 52 two-colour to cope with an increase in short run work when he had a closer look at the HP Indigo Platinum press. As soon as he saw it he knew this was the press, not only to handle the wide variety of work his customers were asking for, but to help expand into other areas.

“The Currie Group was very professional about it. They came in, traded the press for me, installed the Platinum and we haven’t looked back,” said David Daniel.

The HP Indigo Platinum is not a standalone press for this complete service Canberra print company. It fits into a sophisticated range of printing and finishing equipment bought as part of David Daniels’ ongoing equipment rationalization.

CanPrint Communications’ impressive line-up of equipment includes a new Heidelberg CD 102 five colour, a Roland 305 five colour, and two Docutechs, among others. A Trendsetter CTP device has recently gone in to the prepress department that already has three A1 imagesetters. In its finishing department there is a new Muller Martini Starplus perfect binder.

But the HP Indigo has opened a new world of printing work and delighted Daniels with the flexibility it allows him.

“We had a customer who delivered the file on Monday for a 100-page book to be launched that night. We give him ten copies from the Platinum and the company loved it. Next day he came back and asked if we could change the managing director’s photograph. You can’t do that any other way except with the Platinum,” he said.

He tells of another customer who originally wanted 10,000 four-colour menus, but when he got the first 100 laminated prints from the Platinum, determined to change his menus more often. Then there is the real estate agent who used to photocopy brochures of prestige houses. Now he emails the file and comes around three hours later for the finished product.

“He prints on gloss paper and is stunned by the quality.”

David Daniels has made up his own mind on the vexatious question of where digital printing kicks in economically as opposed to offset. Depending on the job, he’s happy to run it digital up to 150 copies.

“The day of the small corner store printer is gone. Customers now want to deal with companies that can handle all their work – from compliment slips to presentation folders.”

Since the HP Indigo Platinum came up to speed it is churnning through 25,000 full-colour sheets per month, all at premium prices. This is good business, according to David Daniels.