Big Opportunity in Wide-format Printing

In-plants that offer wide-format printing have found it to be an excellent value-added service—and more than half of them now offer this service, according to our latest survey. Once customers get a taste, they keep coming back for more. Many in-plants add ink-jet printers for proofing, only to discover a pent-up demand for posters, banners and the like.

We talked with four in-plant managers whose shops recently added wide-format ink-jet printers. Their experiences may help convince you to bring this service to your customers.

Michael F. Domachowske
Assistant Director
Syracuse University Printing Services
Syracuse, N.Y.

Printers: Canon 8000, Canon 8200

Benefits of Wide-format:

"It began as a needed service but has since added revenue to our cost centers. We have the printers in the front of our customer service area as a show piece item. Customers are awed by watching it work. Customers that used to come in for small color flyers, now leave with their flyers along with a poster or two."

Customers' Reactions:

"All positive. It sells itself. You'll want to have samples of some high-res images on hand for potential customers to see."

Cost Recovery Time:

"The cost of this poster printer was recovered in its first 6 months."

Advice to Other In-plants:

"Price out your consumables and make sure you have plenty of space to lay out posters. Also, some of the glossy stock that runs through the printer, the outside film washes off with water. You'll want to offer your customers some protective means of transporting them through inclement weather."

Mike Deni

Graphic Services Manager
Moog
East Aurora, N.Y
Printer: Epson 9600

Background:

"We were sourcing this need through local output service providers. When the 9600 was introduced, it's price point was far below the competition, enough to force us to revisit the viability of bringing this work in-house. After evaluating this unit we were extremely impressed with the quality of output."

Benefits:

"I can't say it has added to the bottom line, although at the time we placed it into service it was definitely saving the company money. We still feel there is a benefit to bringing it in-house, if for no other reasons than convenience and quick turnaround."

Customers' Reactions:

"Our customers feel offering this service in-house is definitely a benefit. In an environment such as ours where nearly everything we produce is on demand, with virtually no lead time, they are appreciative that we are able to accommodate their needs."

Items Produced:

"The work produced on the Epson is cyclical; it may sit unused for up to a week and then suddenly it's running up to 12 hours straight. We produce mainly short-life items such as posters for one-time presentations, trade shows, employee relation events and the like. One of the more popular applications is printing on Tyvek for use in portable banner stands. It has been a hit with our recruiting staff who like to travel light as well as others who may have a one-day event and are looking for an eye catching message venue without the hassle."

Ancillary Equipment:

"We complemented the printer last fall with a Seal 44 laminator/mounter."

Advice:

"In shopping for a large-format printer, we would recommend giving as much attention to the RIP as the printer to ensure it is a good match to your expectations."

Ken Price
Director
The University of Montana Printing & Graphic Services
Missoula, MT
Printer: 44˝ Epson 9800

Benefits:

"We primarily use our large-format printer for color proofing...but have found great response to our large-format poster printing capabilities. With just word of mouth and phone calls inquiring about large-format printing we have experienced a great new source of revenue."

Customers' Reactions:

"Customers have been very pleased with our wide-format capabilities and being able to turn around signs and prints in a short period of time impresses our customers and keeps them coming back."

Ancillary Equipment:

"We also have a large laminator and have recently added a grommet machine. Many folks want their large prints laminated and with grommets."

Advice:

"Large-format ink-jet printing is a great source of revenue and certainly a great tool [for] color proofing. I recommend printing or copy centers getting into the large-format printing service before individuals and departments acquire their own. We have only just tapped the surface of our capabilities, and I anticipate an increase of work in this area this coming year along with some very cool design applications."

Jason Seto
Reprographics Specialist III

Hawaii State Department of Education
Honolulu, Hawaii
Printer: Epson 7800

Customers' Reactions:

"The primary purpose of the printer is proofing, but we are also using it to print...short runs of signs and posters. The schools are starting to take advantage of the fact that we can now accomodate their 'onesy-twosey' sign or special event poster printing and are also happy to get the added benefit of the professional look that our graphic designers and prepress people give their sometimes rough-looking efforts."

Advice:

"I would make sure to get a laminating machine as well, which we did, and also try to get the biggest wide-format printer you can. We are already getting requests for poster/signs too big for our Epson 7800. It seems that once people find out you can do signs and posters in limited quantities, they want to do them bigger and bigger."