New wave of HP Indigo presses in Australia
Every month more printing and graphic arts enterprises are joining the over 30 users of HP Indigo digital printing technology in Australia and New Zealand. While some are brand new sites, others are upgrading their equipment to newer and more powerful configurations. In a new series on Print21Online we are featuring these industry-leading technology adopters and learning why they believe digital is the future.
The HP Indigo Press 1000
Imatec goes Platinum
Prominent national prepress company, Imatec, has installed the first HP Indigo Platinum in Western Australia. According to director Mike Hay, the decision was made after considerable experience with the Xeikon and Heidelberg Quicmaster DI engines at the company’s Sydney operation.
“This is our first Indigo acquisition in the group and the new HDI screening technology gives us the ability to change screen resolutions,” he said.
As the latest high-end digital press in Perth, Imatec’s Platinum is much sought after by advertising agencies where it’s ability to print on stock up to 300 gsm makes the difference. Mike Hay tells of being able to print 16 page books with covers of 300gsm and text stock of 150gsm and not having to stop the machine.
The Platinum is competing in the small offset market in a city where prices are “ridiculously low.” In the first month of operation Imatec has produced work not only for agencies and creative print buyers but also for printers.
“Quite a deal of the work has been what I call ‘help us out of trouble’ where we get a call from a printer or an agency with a deadline they have no hope of meeting in any other way,’ said Hay.
He tells of the launch of a major brewery campaign involving handing out postcards, where the agency had to have 100 digital copies of a 20,000 offset print run. “We not only met their two hour deadline but we also gave them 100 A3 posters.”
He prefers to work with printers rather than compete against them and the strategy seems to be working. He has no intention of getting into the offset market, is happy to pass on the work because he knows he has the better solution for complex, short-run, just-in-time printing.
The Platinum is opening up a number of market segments including wine labels, real estate brochures, prospectuses and other short-run publications. It is this versatility that convinced Mike to go with HP Indigo.
“We are still learning the ropes and teaching our sales reps how to sell digital printing, but the first month has proved a winner.”
Contact Felicity Webb for more informations regarding the HP Indigo digital printing technology.
Ph: 1800 463 446 (1800 INDIGO)
E-mail: felicitywebb@currico.com.au
