Fujifilm Jet Press 720S momentum continues to build with another UK installation

Fujifilm Jet Press 720S momentum continues to build with another UK installation

13.02.2017

FUJIFILM Jet Press 720S

Jon Doidge

Paul Tomlin

Fujifilm announces that Suffolk-based commercial printer Kingfisher Press, which produces a huge range of high quality print products across multiple sectors, has purchased a Jet Press 720S, Fujifilm's high-quality B2 format inkjet press. The investment will significantly boost Kingfisher's ability to take on quality short-run work.

We've been looking closely at the advances in digital printing technology for some time, says one of the company's co-directors Jon Doidge. But until now we hadn't seen a platform that we felt offered quality at a level that justified the cost of investment. That's all changed with the Jet Press 720S, which we think is about to blow away its closest competitors.

A visit to drupa 2016 opened the eyes of the Kingfisher team to the machine's capabilities. We went to drupa with no fixed plan to buy any specific kit, explains Doidge's business partner, and company founder, Paul Tomlin. While there, in looking at all of our options, we decided that we had three choices as to how to proceed: we could buy nothing and continue as we were, running the risk that our competitors would start to leave us behind; we could invest in a new litho press, which would offer us a slight improvement in speed and quality; or we could invest in a Jet Press 720S and open up a whole new revenue stream. When we looked at it like that, it wasn't a difficult decision.

We have multiple small accounts who currently don't even ask us to quote on much of their short run work, Doidge adds. Until now we just haven't had the capability to compete for short run, high quality work - and given current trends this sort of work is going to become an increasingly large part of the overall marketplace. Run lengths will keep coming down as people don't want their money tied up in stock and they like the flexibility of being able to make modifications and amends between runs. Then there's the benefit of personalisation - another major string to our bow that the Jet Press will provide. It's not just an extra piece of kit, it's a gateway to a whole new revenue stream for us, both with existing customers and new ones. We'll send a lot of our short-run litho work there - freeing up space to do more, longer runs on those presses - and at the same time we'll be able to pitch for new customers we couldn't have approached in the past. We've mentioned the investment to many of our existing customers already and they're as excited as we are!

Says Keith Dalton, Managing Director of Fujifilm Graphic Systems UK: We've been thoroughly impressed with the forward-thinking approach that Kingfisher Press is pursuing with this investment. Too many printers are missing out on the opportunity to revolutionise their businesses and enter new markets. Fujifilm has proven that it has the technology and the market knowledge to help them to do this, and we will soon be announcing a not-to-be-missed opportunity for UK businesses to see the Jet Press 720S running live demonstrations.

Kingfisher's Jet Press purchase - made at drupa - was followed by extensive building work at its premises in order to be able to accommodate the new machine. The installation will begin at the end of February, as soon as building works are complete.

Fujifilm has been fantastic through the whole process, says Tomlin. We've been customers of theirs for 15 years now with XMF workflow and CTP systems and their service has always been excellent. We're delighted that we're now inkjet partners of theirs as well.

Dalton concludes: We're delighted to see yet another Jet Press 720S installation in the UK, adding to nearly 100 now around the world and offering further evidence that, in a challenging marketplace, the Jet Press 720S offers commercial printers an unrivalled means of future-proofing their business and securing new revenue streams.

Files:

Jet_Press_720S_14.jpg (1.3 Mbyte)

Jon_Doidge_14.jpg (2.8 Mbyte)

Paul_Tomlin_14.jpg (3.1 Mbyte)

LINK:	https://www.fujifilm.eu/uk/news/article/fujifilm-jet-press-720s-moment...
	See more stories from fujifilm

Most recent headlines