Brand New In-plant Opens in Fayetteville

Scenes from the grand opening of Bronco Printing Solutions at Fayetteville State University.

Scenes from the grand opening of Bronco Printing Solutions at Fayetteville State University.

Scenes from the grand opening of Bronco Printing Solutions at Fayetteville State University.

Scenes from the grand opening of Bronco Printing Solutions at Fayetteville State University.

Scenes from the grand opening of Bronco Printing Solutions at Fayetteville State University.

Scenes from the grand opening of Bronco Printing Solutions at Fayetteville State University.

When Bronco Printing Solutions at Fayetteville State University held an open house on April 6, it wasn't just to show off the in-plant's new equipment. It was to tout the grand opening of what is essentially a brand new in-plant.

The university had been outsourcing most print work and using employees from another department to print simple jobs when necessary — not exactly an in-plant. But after doing an analysis of whether to invest in its small print operation or shut it down entirely, the school decided on the former and brought in a manager to oversee the upgrades that would turn the foundering print shop into a world class printing operation.

The university hired Gary Warren, who had brought growth and profitability to the University of North Carolina at Pembroke's in-plant. He hired employees, gave the 4,636-sq.-ft. shop a facelift — with new paint and wall murals — and ordered an arsenal of new equipment that would make any in-plant jealous:

• Mimaki flatbed JFX200-2513 wide-format printer
• Mimaki roll to roll UCJV300-160 wide-format printer
• Standard Horizon CRF creaser/folder
• Xanté Impressia envelope printer
• Prism 27i paper cutter/laminator
• Royal Sovereign cold laminator with heat assist
• Heat Seal model HSE 100 shrink wrapper
• Sailrite Fabricator sewing machine

These joined the existing Konica Minolta bizhub PRESS C1100 and bizhub PRESS C6000.

On April 6, the four-employee in-plant welcomed 100 visitors to its grand opening celebration.

"We had demos throughout the day and employees gave individual and group tours describing the equipment and what each one does," Warren says. Visitors were excited to see the new in-plant's capabilities and find out what the shop can do to lower their print costs.