By DPS Staff
We’d like to congratulate this year’s Reader’s Choice Top 30 winners. These vendors represent reader interest throughout the year in products and services surrounding digital print, packaging, and publishing. All print- and web-based editorial, as well as print advertisements are assigned an INFO# that enables readers to request information or visit product and company websites.
Print and finishing vendors top the list of products our readers are interested in, making up 49 and 23 percent of the list—including honorable mentions, respectively. Our readers are also interested in software and workflow, which make up approximately 20 percent of the winners. Substrate companies round out the Reader’s Choice award winners.
Top 30 Company Profiles
We asked the Top 30 vendors and five honorable mentions to provide a company profile and highlight up to three products that represent their ongoing commitment to the markets they serve. Products and services are presented in chart format within this article.
Aleyant
Aleyant’s automated print software solutions create a solid foundation for growing your print business—and customer count—by automating daily print processes such as ordering, pricing, file correction, production, and customer service. Our automation print software reduces manual touches, errors, and production time for your print shop. With it, you can connect online design to business to consumer and business to business online print stores. Connect your print store to estimating, production management, customer service, and prepress automation. Aleyant software products operate separately, together, or with over 1,500 third party applications via direct API or Zapier. Start automating your success today at aleyant.com.
Avanti Systems
At Avanti, our goal is to help you deliver more jobs, in less time, with the confidence in knowing that every aspect of your shop is integrated into one powerful platform. Connect islands of automation, eliminate breakpoints in your workflow, and get the information you want—when you want it, and where you want it—easily, with Avanti Slingshot. From order entry through to production and billing, the modular Avanti Slingshot enables you to work more efficiently with the software and equipment you already have.
Canon
Canon U.S.A., Inc. is committed to helping our customers grow by providing an integrated array of automated, productive, user friendly, and profitable solutions. With one of the broadest portfolios in the industry we develop hardware, such as digital presses and wide format printers, workflow software, and professional services to assist a commercial printer in growing their business and profits. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility.
Colordyne
Colordyne Technologies is a leading manufacturer of efficient, high-resolution digital print solutions. Colordyne is committed to providing on demand label and tag color inkjet printers for a range of applications and industries at breakthrough speeds and cost effectiveness. Colordyne’s digital color platforms—from benchtop industrial color printers to complete, inline finishing production presses—demonstrate its specialization in scalability of the industry’s most versatile products.
Duplo
Established in 1979, Duplo USA Corporation is the leading provider of innovative print finishing solutions for the graphic arts. Our highly efficient, modular products streamline post-press production for digital color and offset applications and perform with incredible precision. Duplo continuously strives to bring the latest in finishing automation to market and introduced the first all-in-one slitter/cutter/creaser, air suction collating and bookletmaking system, and tabletop folder as well as the compact and sensory-driven raised spot UV coater.
EFI
Headquartered in CA’s Silicon Valley, with offices worldwide, EFI is a leader in digital print. Offering value-added combinations of hardware, software, and consumables, the company is driving the print industry’s transformation from analog to digital color.
Epson America, Inc.
Epson America, Inc. offers an extensive array of image capture and image output products for consumer, photographic, business, and graphic arts.
Fujifilm North America
The Graphic Systems Division of Fujifilm North America Corporation delivers solutions for workflow, consultative services, remote monitoring, color standardization and G7 implementation, pressroom products, computer to plate, proofing, digital printing, wide format, packaging, labels, and specialty printing. Fujifilm also manufactures and distributes Sericol inks and is a leader in the development of UV inks for screenprinting, narrow web, and large format digital printing. Fujifilm is committed to minimizing the environmental impact of its products and operations, proactively working to preserve the environment, and strives to educate printers about environmental best practice.
GPA
GPA expands brand potential by providing global and product intelligence to facilitate innovation and support business growth. Our Global Fedrigoni Network team manufactures and distributes an unparalleled range of products in support of digital, offset, and flexographic press technologies.
Graphic Whizard
Graphic Whizard has built our superb reputation of manufacturing and distributing quality creasing machines, numbering machines, and print finishing equipment including UV coaters by producing a range of bindery/print finishing equipment able to fulfill any production requirement and budget. Since 1987, we have installed thousands of systems worldwide through our global network of dealers and distributors who provide local hands-on sales and technical expertise.
HP Inc.
HP Inc. creates technology that makes life better for everyone, everywhere. Through our portfolio of printers, PCs, mobile devices, solutions, and services, we engineer experiences that amaze.
Kodak
Kodak is a technology company focused on imaging. We provide—directly and through partnerships with other innovative companies—hardware, software, consumables, and services to customers in graphic arts, commercial print, publishing, packaging, entertainment and commercial films, and consumer products markets. With our world-class research and development capabilities, innovative solutions portfolio, and highly trusted brand, Kodak is helping customers around the globe to sustainably grow their own businesses and enjoy their lives.
Konica Minolta
Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. is a leader in industrial and commercial printing and packaging solutions. With a comprehensive portfolio of production print offerings, it delivers the latest innovations in printing, applications, and expertise. Its All Covered IT Services division offers a range of IT strategy, support, and network security solutions across all verticals. Konica Minolta has been recognized as the #1 Brand for Customer Loyalty in the MFP Office Copier Market by Brand Keys for 12 consecutive years and is proud to be ranked on the Forbes 2017 America’s Best Employers list. Konica Minolta, Inc. has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for seven consecutive years. We partner with our customers to give shape to ideas and work to bring value to our society.
Mactac
For 60 years, Mactac has been at the forefront of pressure-sensitive adhesive materials development for wide format digital printing, mounting, laminating, screenprinting, and cut vinyl needs. In fact, we pioneered the overlaminate and mounting films industry in the 1970’s, inventing the cold-mounting technology that sparked large format image protection development. And, our dedication to innovation continues today. Our premium pressure-sensitive graphic products are known to deliver superior image quality and lasting durability. Our innovative solutions transform walls, windows, floors, vehicles, and other unique spaces, making them ideal for indoor and outdoor signage, fleet, and vehicle wraps, trade show displays, retail signage, environmental graphics, and other eye-catching applications.
Magnum Magnetics Corp.
U.S. manufacturer of flexible magnetic sheeting, strip, and custom profiles. We offer printable magnetic sheeting for multiple printing presses including offset, flexographic, inkjet, and digital. We will take the time to understand your application before recommending a magnetic solution. Please contact us to learn more.
Melissa
Since 1985, Melissa has helped print and mail services providers offer CASS/PAVE address management and list hygiene services like NCOALink and deduplication to reduce undeliverable mail, meet USPS and Canada Post compliance, and qualify for postal discounts. Melissa’s deep domain expertise in address verification, customizable consumer and business mailing lists, and complete contact data quality improves the effectiveness of direct mail and omni-channel marketing initiatives in the U.S., Canada, and worldwide.
Muller Martini
Muller Martini is the world’s largest producer of print finishing solutions for commercial and book printers, trade binderies, newspapers, and digital book manufacturers. Its groundbreaking Finishing 4.0 platform delivers innovative systems, software, and machines that seamlessly accommodate offset, digital, and hybrid printed products while optimizing workflow. In addition, through MMServices, Muller is a leading provider of performance enhancement programs, which offer continual improvement for equipment, people, and processes.
MGI USA
The MGI Group is a global digital printing technology leader composed of MGI Digital Technology, Kora-Packmat, and Ceradrop. MGI’s digital printing and finishing solutions apply to a range of industries, including commercial printers, plastic card manufacturers, government agencies, packaging and label converters, in-plants, publishers, and photo printers. MGI digital printing solutions include the JETvarnish 3D product series and Meteor Unlimited Colors multi-substrate press lines.
Ordant
Ordant is cloud-based, integrated print MIS and web to print software for print companies and sign shops. It is fast, easy to use, and secure. With Ordant, you can calculate the exact cost of custom price estimates, simplify order management, and set up online business to business or business to consumer storefronts. Ordant can improve print shop profitability by streamlining online proofing, email order approval, customer relationship management, time tracking, automated emails, and file uploading. Ordant reduces the need to re-enter relevant customer and job shipment data in applications such as FedEx, UPS, Quickbooks, Slack, Stripe, and Google Drive. Ordant software can be used with many types of printing, including offset, lithography, digital printing, screenprinting, wide format printing, and label printing.
Ricoh USA, Inc.
Ricoh helps companies grow their businesses, improve customer engagement, and increase efficiencies by focusing on profitability, cost reduction, and document integrity. Its Commercial Printing Business Group leverages its advanced production print portfolio, proven software, and professional services to build lasting alliances that empower customers in various markets to achieve these goals at an affordable price point and with customized solutions.
RISO, Inc.
RISO, Inc., headquartered in Burlington, MA, is a wholly owned subsidiary of RISO Kagaku Corporation, Japan’s leading manufacturer and distributor of high-speed inkjet printers and digital duplicators. Its line of digital duplicators includes one- and two-color systems that reliably produce millions of copies at speeds of up to 190 sheets per minute, are environmentally friendly, and easy and inexpensive to use.
Rochester Software Associates
Rochester Software Associates (RSA) is the only company in the industry to provide transform, output management, prepress, and web to print (W2P) software solutions to support digital production print workflows. For over 30 years, our customers have used RSA solutions to turn printing into productivity, automating print workflows. Products include WebCRD, a leading W2P software for in-plants; QDirect for output management; and transform and ReadyPrint for makeready.
Rollem International
Rollem’s Insignia Series of sheet-fed rotary die cutters perform die-cutting, kiss-cutting, embossing, perforating, scoring, and cut-scoring on a range of papers, plastics, magnetic material, PVC, styrene, and polypropylenes. Our Jetslit bi-directional slit/score/perf system delivers high-volume finishing in one process. The Champion SS is the industry standard for back slitting crack and peel products. Rollem is your partner for standard and custom finishing solutions. We offer free consultations on print finishing solutions for all size printers.
Screen Americas
Long known as the graphic art’s dominant player in CTP and workflow, Screen is now a leading manufacturer of production class inkjet print engines for diverse markets such as commercial print, direct mail, transactional, publishing, as well as label and packaging and point of purchase and display. Screen inkjet solutions help our customers grow revenues, decrease costs, and find new business opportunities.
Signs365
Signs365 is a grand format, trade only wholesale printer. We offer a wide variety of full-color, high-quality printed products all produced in 24 hours. $10 Overnight Anywhere shipping is available on all products. Visit signs365.com for more details. Signs365. We are only trade only!
Standard Finishing Systems
Standard distributes a broad line of feeding and finishing products including Horizon perfect binders, collators, folders, saddlestitchers, die cutters, slitters/creasers, and bookletmakers; and Hunkeler unwinders, rewinders, cutters/stackers, dynamic perforators, and inspection systems for continuous feed printers. Standard has applied its knowledge of the conventional offset print finishing industry to engineer effective solutions for the expanding digital and inkjet print markets.
THERM-O-TYPE
THERM-O-TYPE digital finishing products include the new Glue-Tech Sheet-to-Sheet gluer, the NSF Elite, Excel & Ultra die cutting/foil stamping/embossing presses, RDC-Flex rotary die cutter, Zip cutter/slitter/creaser/finisher models, RAS-mc right angle slitters, and traditional business card slitters. THERM-O-TYPE also produces foil fusing equipment and sells over 100 different fusing foil colors. THERM-O-TYPE has been supporting the printing industry with equipment, supplies, and technical expertise since 1977.
Xeikon
A division of the Flint Group, Xeikon is an innovator in digital printing technology. The company designs, develops, and delivers web-fed digital color presses for labels and packaging applications, document printing, as well as commercial printing. These presses utilize LED-array-based dry toner electrophotography, open workflow software, and application-specific toners.
Xerox Holdings Corporation
Xerox Holdings Corporation is a technology leader focused on the intersection of digital and physical. We use automation and next-generation personalization to redefine productivity, drive growth, and make the world more secure. Every day, our innovative technologies and intelligent work solutions—powered by Xerox—help people communicate and work better.
Zund America, Inc.
Zünd digital cutting systems are perfect for graphics, packaging, and other industrial applications. With a complete palette of cutting, routing, and even laser tool options for processing rigid and/or flexible substrates, the G3/S3 and dual-beam D3 are adaptable to any production environment. Recently added high-speed Over Cutter Camera registration OCC and fully automated BHS150 Board Handling, help boost Zünd finishing productivity even more.
Honorable Mentions
In addition to the Top 30 winners, we also include five honorable mentions.
Heidelberg
Heidelberg has been a reliable and highly innovative partner to the global printing industry for more than 160 years. We are helping to define the future trends in our industry with state-of-the-art technologies and innovative business ideas for commercial, label, and packaging customers. With the largest service coverage in the industry, we offer technical, financial, and performance services to ensure our customers are getting the most from their equipment.
Memjet
Driven by a passion for invention and a desire to change an industry, Memjet has grown to become the global leader in color printing technologies that provide remarkable productivity, profitability, and innovation. This year, Memjet announced DuraFlex, a modular single-pass print solution that combines Memjet’s signature features of speed, simplicity, and affordability with new attributes such as enhanced durability, A4 and A3 plus widths in a four-color printhead, a high-speed data path, and modules that control all printhead functions. Together, these features give OEMs the resources to create affordable benchtop, mini-press, and entry-level presses capable of quality and speed previously not available in these types of solutions.
OKI Data Americas
OKI Data Americas continues to expand its presence in the digital production market with its C9 Series and ColorPainter wide format printers. OKI is leading the market with its new generation of digital production devices. These printers are characterized by the ability to produce unique, high-value color output on an array of media, creating new revenue streams. OKI technology enables providers to print for profit in a market that is crowded, competitive, and price sensitive.
PressWise by Smartsoft
Designed by a visionary printer burdened by the traditional manual workflow process that still plague many printers today, PressWise is an end-to-end, SaaS-based MIS and print workflow automation solution that comes complete with robust features such as unlimited web storefronts, estimating, quoting, order processing, workflow management, complete shipping integration, fulfillment, and the ability to integrate with most other third-party storefronts.
Roland DGA Corporation
Roland DGA offers an award-winning lineup of wide format inkjet printers and integrated printer/cutters, including TrueVIS, SOLJET, VersaEXPRESS and VersaStudio eco-solvent printers, Texart dye-sublimation printers, and VersaUV UV printers. The Roland line also includes new inkjets for high-volume UV flatbed printing and direct-to-garment printing. All Roland printers and printer/cutters come with powerful, easy-to-use RIP software, and several models offer specialty ink options, including White, Metallic Silver, Fluorescent, and Clear Coat inks.
Editor’s Note
The Top 30 vendors and honorable mentions are only a percentage of the companies serving the digital publishing space, from document creation and management through production, finishing, and mailing.
If you don’t see your favorite vendor featured here, show your support by visiting DPSmagdirect.com throughout the year and click through for more information based on recent coverage as well as advertisements.
Congratulations again to the winners, these companies and more fuel innovation and continue to help reinvent print and communications worldwide.
Jan2020, DPS Magazine
