IPMA Conference Visits Iowa State University’s In-plant

By Bob Neubauer

The In-plant Printing and Mailing Association conference wrapped up June 6 in Des Moines, Iowa, with a tour of Iowa State University Printing Services. Attendees boarded buses for the drive to the Ames, Iowa, campus where they were able to walk through the spacious shop and speak with operators.

Visitors tour the ISU Printing operation during the IPMA tour. | Photo by Sam Lauersdorf Photography

Now 102 years old, ISU’s in-plant moved into its current 29,000-sq.ft. operation in 1967. With the installation of a Canon varioPRINT iX3200 sheetfed inkjet press in 2022 and the removal of its offset presses, the in-plant now has a lot more open space.

During Thursday’s tour, attendees watched the inkjet press pump out stacks of color material and were able to see for themselves the high quality of the printing. ISU is running just about every application on the inkjet press: brochures, magazines, flyers with heavy ink coverage, curriculum materials, transactional statements, even stationery. Director Nathan Thole fielded lots of questions from visitors about the press.

Director Nathan Thole (left) talked with fellow in-plant managers during the tour.

In the separate warehouse area, the shop’s Canon Arizona 2280 GT flatbed printer and Colex Sharpcut flatbed CNC cutter were on display. It uses these to produce much of the university’s signage, including ADA-compliant signage.

In-plant managers also visited the campus bookstore and had lunch before heading back to Des Moines.

Visitors watch the Canon varioPRINT iX3200 operator at work. | Photo by Sam Lauersdorf Photography

ISU Printing Services staff greeted IPMA attendees with gifts.

IPMA conference visitors tour the ISU in-plant.

The Canon inkjet press at the ISU in-plant.

IPMA conference visitors tour the ISU in-plant.

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Bob Neubauer Author's page Bob has served as editor of In-plant Impressions since October of 1994. Prior to that he served for three years as managing editor of Printing Impressions, a commercial printing publication. Mr. Neubauer is very active in the U.S. in-plant industry. He attends all the major in-plant conferences and has visited more than 180 in-plant operations around the world. He has given presentations to numerous in-plant groups in the U.S., Canada and Australia, including the Association of College and University Printers and the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association. He also coordinates the annual In-Print contest, co-sponsored by IPMA and In-plant Impressions.