By Olivia Cahoon
Part one of two
Today’s print customers look for innovative and customizable features to get products noticed. However, not all print environments need high-speed production printers. For some, multi-functional products (MFPs) featuring some graphic specific bells and whistles do the trick.
Entry-level production MFPs, which offer monthly duty cycles of up to 100K; and light-production MFPs, targeting monthly duty cycles between 101 and 300K, are found in corporate in-plant print environments and print for pays.
These production presses provide print service providers (PSPs) with the opportunity to offer their customers high-quality features while maintaining a budget and working in limited workspace.
Bells and Whistles
Entry level and light production MFPs offer a variety of attractive features for print environments.
Small print shops are confined to work areas that are just large enough to meet their demands. By adding an MFP, print providers get the features without sacrificing the space. “Light-production devices are well suited for operations where space is at a premium, or where volumes aren’t as consistently high as larger, full-production shops,” says Chris Wysong, senior manager, Ricoh USA.
Using an MFP, PSPs monitor and manage production operations at any given time to cut downtime and give workers more flexibility.
These devices are best used in small to medium commercial, franchise, in-plant, and transactional environments. Jennifer Kolloczek, senior manager, Canon USA, believes that entry-level production presses fit well into creative communities like advertising agencies, graphic design studios, packaging design, and architectural firms.
Because modern environments look to utilize their limited space, they also search for equipment with the most capabilities. Wysong says that color management and finishing options are features that PSPs look for in commercial print centers. “It’s important to make these devices capable of the kind of color consistency that brands expect, without adding too much to the low-price point that is part of light production’s allure,” adds Wysong.
These devices handle many advanced functions from finishing to color management support and media handling. The Xerox Color C60 and Versant 80 handles registration and media while catering to copying and scanning. “We see these devices installed in many traditional quick printers and commercial printers for digital as well as many office superstores and colleges and universities,” says Fred J. Ramsey, solutions product manager, Xerox.
Canon’s imagePRESS C850 features gloss optimization support for a variety of media options including envelopes, long sheet, and textured paper up to 30 inches with inline finishing support. Popular finishing options for light production MFPs include saddle-finishing, stapling, punching, square-folding, and trimming.
The Perfect Size
Entry-level production presses are made to handle light productions and low to medium volumes. Ramsey reveals that some customers begin with a production of 20K to 50K and then slowly increase their volumes. The Versant 80 handles volumes from 50K to 125K. Ramsey adds, “We’ve had plenty of customers beyond these values in a given month, or months. There are several options that fit all of the volume ranges.”
Other applications include the ability to handle flexible magnets, ID cards, labels, linens, metallic, security, signs, and window clings. With an application like the Xerox EA toner, PSPs print polyester synthetics that offer water resistance and tear-proof capabilities. Ramsey says that this material is ideal for menus and placemats and that the synthetics eliminate the need for lamination.
With a fast turnaround time of print speeds up to 85 impressions per minute and the capability to handle volumes from 15K to 100K letter-size impressions per month, Kolloczek says applications like booklets, brochures, direct mail, flyers, memos, newsletters, and seminar packs are consistently handled utilized by MFPs in the entry-level production space.
Light-production MFPs are well suited for banner printing, business cards, postcards, and posters. Wysong says the Ricoh’s light production device; the Ricoh Pro C5200, has a tighter registration than its predecessors, giving it an increased capability for GW controller support and light production.
Advancement
Production MFPs provide a suitable solution for PSPs with limited space. However, there comes a point where a print provider may need to consider advancing from a production MFP to a production printer. Wysong believes that once a duty cycle reaches over 300K, it’s time to consider moving into a full-fledged production printer.
“There are some jobs and campaigns that demand the kind of volume that light production just can’t handle,” says Wysong. If a PSP has the space for a dedicated production printer and volumes are consistently high, a single-function printer may the best option.
When a PSP decides to upgrade, they are looking to take on more work. Ramsey explains that using automation for finishing, color management, and workflow will make these qualities more turnkey, rich, and robust.
Entry Level Production Presses
Wysong says that light production MFPs are a great way to get production-level power while embracing innovative workstyles. Light production MFPs handle volumes up to 125K per month and provide a variety of different finishing features. Using this device, PSPs with small workspaces and low to medium productions offer their customers letter-sized applications like business cards, flyers, and posters. With the output popularity that a MFP provides, PSPs may need to advance their devices to a production printer that handles growing volume. dps
Feb2017, DPS Magazine
