Lehigh Scores New Color Production System

When the Philadelphia Eagles report to training camp at Lehigh University, in Bethlehem, Pa., this summer, they may not have former Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb, but a new performer will be waiting at the school’s in-plant to help guide the team.

In February, Lehigh University Printing and Mailing Services installed a Ricoh Pro C900 color production system, which it acquired through IKON. Director Glenn H. Strause reports working out various competitors’ machines before deciding on the Pro C900. These included the Canon 7000, Xerox 7000 and Xerox 700.

“The price point of the Ricoh was correct for us,” Strause reports. “And the quality was exactly where we wanted to be.”

Strause notes that some manufacturers offer output featuring a very glossy look, while others are going for more of an offset-like appearance. The Ricoh, he maintains, gives the university in-plant the best of both worlds.

“We have the ability to add a little shine if we want, and it does a good job of getting as close to press [quality] as we expected,” he says.

Strause was also diligent in looking for a machine that could hold registration, noting that the Ricoh has been very reliable in that area.

“A great piece can come off the machine, but you can ruin it at the cutter,” Strause contends. “This machine registers well and holds better than advertised.”

The Ricoh replaced a Konica 8050 machine, and is being used to produce a variety of posters, flyers and postcards for the university. The shop is running an EFI Fiery E-80 RIP, which employees were already familiar with from operating the Konica.

Strause required his new equipment to handle multiple ups, and the shop can now produce jobs in a variety of sheet sizes, including 81⁄2x11˝, 11x17˝, 12x18˝ and 13x19˝. The Ricoh is now handling some of the in-plant’s short-run press work, Strause points out.

When the NFL team invades campus this summer, it will rely on the in-plant to produce signage, playbooks, campus maps, parking passes and hang tags for the players, media, coaches and staff, as well as any last-minute, on-demand work. The Ricoh will be available to generate much of the Eagles’ print workload, Strause concludes.