Illinois State University Adds HP-Indigo

In 2000, Illinois State University Printing Services purchased a Heidelberg QM DI 46 direct imaging offset press. Since then, digital printing has taken off. In response, the in-plant recently invested in this growing technology too.

“The growth of full-color printing was exponential,” says David Nelson, director of Printing Services. “Now, run lengths are getting shorter, turnaround times more demanding, and customers have expressed interest in variable data printing. A digital press is more efficient because it does not require negatives, plates, makeready and lots of time. Time is money...It was time to decide.”

After much re-search, the in-plant purchased an HP Indigo 5000 to aid the staff of 19 in the production of student recruitment brochures and booklets, academic publications, stationery, business forms, posters and other items.

“We felt the HP had a more desirable offset look, took a smaller footprint, had less installation demands, and offered a fifth color unit for spot color,” Nelson says. “It wasn’t the fastest or the cheapest. It just met our needs.”

Nelson expects the in-plant to see a return on investment in less than five years.

Printing Services communicated with other universities and commercial printers to get a feel for which press would fit the in-plant best. The in-plant’s presentation to university administration was based on future needs, market trends and product usefulness, according to Nelson.

“The presentation was good enough that the university internally financed the purchase of the digital press,” he explains. “Additionally, this university has an academic department with a major in graphic communication. By working closely with the academic department we were able to link our purchase with the academic mission of the university.”

What really helped the in-plant make its decision was the feedback it received from other college and university in-plants.

“Other universities were very open with their help,” says Nelson, who has met many other managers at conferences like ACUP, Big Ten and the recent SUPDMC. “It’s great to have friends.”

The HP Indigo 5000 represents an investment in customers’ needs, Nelson says, which is the most important step an in-plant can take to flourish.

“I came to in-plant printing from a high-volume commercial printing company and from newspapers. I learned early in my career that printing companies offer three options: price, service, and quality. Choose any two,” he jokes. “As an in-plant, it is important for us to choose service and quality. There is always someone who can print for a cheaper price. Only the in-plant can care about its customer like family and provide the quality that makes the family proud.”