Sharing Enables High-tech Upgrade

Though it has just seven employees, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Printing Services installed a new HP Indigo 3050 digital press last August. How? By agreeing to use it for both academic and production purposes.

“The educational tie-in was the primary reason we got this press,” testifies John M. Reinders, applied print technology instructor. “It was purchased by our academic program with the understanding that we would use the press. Without this connection with our printing program we would not have this device on our floor.”

When the press isn’t being used to prepare students for digital print careers, it is busy producing full-color printing for the Green Bay college. This includes marketing materials, such as program brochures, open house mailings, postcards, student organization posters and photo prints. Before getting the 3050, Printing Services produced four-color work on a two-color Hamada press.

The college’s academic program uses the new press for student projects and service learning projects for non-profit groups like the American Red Cross, Brown County United Way and the local humane society.

“It offers the students a chance to work on live projects that have a positive impact on the community,” Reinders says.

The academic program teaches and does variable data printing on a regular basis. The in-plant does limited variable data pieces, and is primarily focused on doing mailing content at this time.

“We are ahead of schedule in terms of our projected use, and we are exploring additional opportunities to grow with variable data work,” Reinders says. “We feel that we picked the right device to fill our needs.”