Colgate Trades iGen3 for Color 1000

When Colgate University Document & Mail Services installed its Xerox iGen3 in 2008, the 10-employee in-plant was very happy with the results. But a lot can change in a few years.

“The business model we had five years ago...has changed considerably,” notes Director Bob Keats. “With the iGen, there was no way to hook any finishing equipment to it. We had a space limitation.” So booklet making had to be handled offline.

To remedy that situation while at the same time upgrading the technology in its Hamilton, N.Y., operation, the in-plant recently swapped that iGen3 for a new Xerox Color 1000 with a Plockmatic booklet maker on the end. So far it’s been a big hit. It’s easier to operate, boasts self-diagnostic capabilities and produces excellent quality work.

“Our communications department likes the print quality much better,” says Keats. He credits the new low-melt EA Dry Ink, which requires no fuser oil to deliver a smooth, offset-like finish at resolutions of 2,400x2,400 dpi.

Like the iGen, the 1000 can run a range of media weights and sizes, from lightweight 55 gsm to 350 gsm. One difference, notes Keats, is the maximum sheet size on the Color 1000 is slightly smaller: 14.33x20.5˝ on the iGen3 vs. 13x19.2˝ on the 1000.

“But I’ve only found two jobs that we did in the last two years that I couldn’t reformat to fit the smaller sheet size on the 1000,” he says. “So we didn’t really lose much there.”

Keats notes that switching to the new digital press was a fairly easy transition for his operators, and he praises the ease of use of the Color 1000.

“The operator interface is much easier to use,” he says, adding, with a laugh, “Even I could run it if I really, really had to.”

One thing he doesn’t miss is the frequent recalibration required with the iGen3. The new machine features Full Width Array and Automated Color Quality Suite color management tools, which constantly monitor image quality and make small adjustments while running.

At 100 pages per minute, the Color 1000 is plenty fast for the in-plant’s needs.

“The nice thing about this is it runs the booklet maker at rated speed,” adds Keats. “The machine does not slow down.”

This comes in handy when the in-plant has to produce football programs for a Friday night game, but doesn’t get the copy until Friday morning.

Just two hours from Xerox headquarters in Rochester, the in-plant gets “fabulous” service, Keats says.

Despite adding this digital firepower, the in-plant is not completely finished with offset. It still has a two-color Hamada on deck, though Keats says it handles just 10 percent of the shop’s work. The most recent acquisition prior to the Color 1000 was an Intoprint DP100GA digital envelope press, which Keats says has brought in more envelope work than expected.