Agfa Graphics is running fast to pump up its digital offering, as it prepares its Scoresby showroom for the first MGI Meteor to strike this June. The Belgian-based plate supplier recently picked up local agency for the MGI from Ferrostaal ANZ, firming up its strategy to target printers transitioning to digital as run-lengths continue to drop.
Agfa will throw open its doors to give printers a chance to see the MGI Meteor DP 8700 XL digital press in action, for a full roster of tours and demonstrations in the next couple of weeks. The move marks a significant step for the plate supplier into an already busy marketplace, and according to Mark Brindley (pictured), managing director, Agfa Graphics Oceania, it is fully committed to growing its digital business with MGI.
"It's hugely important for Agfa, and we've behind it from day one. We've been in the wide-format space for some time, but now we can truly partner with our customers as and when they make that leap to digital," Brindley tells Print21.
"The need to diversify to meet a changing market and maintain profitability is well established. In this respect, the addition of the MGI range of digital products to the Agfa stable in this region is very much in line with our commitment to partnering with our clients as they make the transitions necessary to meet a dynamic market."
The MGI Meteor DP 8700 XL can handle a broad range of substrates from paper and card, to synthetic papers and vinyls, self-adhesive labels, PET, PVC and polycarbonates. It is also able to product large-format print up to 1011 mm long. Brindley backs the flagship Meteor press as the ideal machine for offset printers looking to transition to digital, praising its versatility and cost efficiency.
He adds that, "With the potential to help businesses open up entirely new revenue streams with high margin products in growth markets, it's exactly the press a range of businesses can use - all at an investment level which makes it potentially one of the most profitable machines on the market. And, most importantly, it comes with the full service and support of the Agfa network."
Agfa has a history with MGI, already partnering with the french technology provider in a number of European countries. To support its Australian commitment to its digital push, two local Agfa engineers have already made the trek to France to get trained up on MGI's full range of digital varnishing and finishing equipment.