Fuji Xerox lands two major installs as OPUS Group invests in the high-speed inkjet revolution, pitched at bringing crucial short-run work back onshore. In response to growing customer demand, OPUS divisions Ligare and CanPrint will pick up an Impika iPrint eVolution 20-inch and an FX 1400 20-inch, respectively, complementing the group's strong offset base.
A $multi-million investment, the two colour inkjet presses are expected to be up and running by the end of June. Both will be rounded off with inline Hunkeler finishing, able to produce cut sheets or book blocks feeding inline to MBO folders. According to OPUS Group CEO, Cliff Brigstocke (pictured), the decision is part of a broader strategy to expand its digital capacity and capture increased customer demand for short-run work.
"Publishing customers are moving away from traditional warehousing to focus on lowering the total cost of ownership by utilising shorter runs, quicker turnaround times, online replenishment ordering and digital inkjet technology. Installing colour inkjet technology in Sydney and Canberra means that we can now extend this offer to onshore colour print work and support our industry's desire to reduce wastage and manufacture to demand," said Brigstocke.
On top of the new Impika, Ligare will also add a Fuji Xerox Book Factory capable of printing and binding finished, perfect-bound books down to a book of one. The new installs mark a significant addition to the group's publishing division, following a HP T410 mono inkjet in Maryborough, Print on Demand hard cover book binding lines in Sydney and Singapore, and expansion of its digital asset management and supply chain software IPALM.