Quality, Professionalism, and Craftsmanship

While many in-plants strive for excellence in the work they produce, the Print and Mail Services division at the University of West Georgia (UWG) takes that goal to the next level.

“What we do here may look like printing, but it’s really about people — the ones we work with, the ones we serve, and the ones we hope to inspire,” declares Michael Post, director of campus services at UWG. “We’re a team of passionate craftspeople who take pride in our work and share a set of values that go beyond the job. Yes, this trade provides us a living, but it gives us so much more in return: purpose, community, and a connection to something bigger than ourselves, all while supporting the work and mission of our institution.”

With that in mind, it should be no surprise that Post is always looking ahead at how he can improve every printed piece his team offers. With five full-time staff and a rotating crew of student interns and assistants, operating out of a 9,400-sq.-ft. space in Carrollton, Georgia, the in-plant has grown to serve not only the university, but also a growing list of outside clients.

Carlos Olvera runs the HP Indigo 7K digital press.

‘An Industrial-Grade Press’

The biggest investment — among several — that Print and Mail Services has made in recent months was the decision to transition away from the in-plant’s Canon toner-based devices, and install an HP Indigo 7k digital press.

“We made the decision … as part of a strategic shift to elevate the quality, reliability, and long-term value of our operation,” says Post. “The Indigo isn’t just a printer, it’s an industrial-grade press.”

Related story: University of West Georgia: Setting the Standard

What attracted him to the press — beyond the expanded it brings to the table — was the build quality. Post notes that the Indigo’s cast iron chassis was a major factor in his decision.

Standing in front of UWG’s new HP Indigo 7K digital press are (from left) Michael Post, Gisela Roberts, Eva Marchbanks, Gabby Miller, and Carlos Olvera. Missing: Eden Brown.

“Considering how much lease renewal rates tend to spike often by 30–50% every five years, we wanted an investment that could last beyond a typical lease cycle without a drop in output quality,” he says.

Carlos Olvera performs maintenance on UWG's HP Indigo 7K digital press.

Service and Support

Service and support were other big considerations for Post when he was making the decision to shift to the HP Indigo platform. He notes that HP gave “extensive training” to his primary operator on everything from running the press, to how to do all of the regular maintenance and many of the secondary repairs it might require, allowing the in-plant to reduce downtime and the need for service calls. And, he notes, if they do hit an issue the operator can’t handle, “HP’s mixed-reality glasses allow us to connect instantly with a remote technician, making it feel like we have a tech on site.”

Gabby Miller runs UWG's new HP Latex R1000 Plus wide-format printer.

HP’s Equipment as a Service (EAAS) model allowed the in-plant to install the Indigo press for what Post notes is a “competitive monthly rate comparable to what many in-plants pay for toner devices, but with significantly greater capabilities.”

While the press hasn’t been installed for long, Post says the shop has already moved roughly three-quarters of its sheetfed digital production to the Indigo without any issues. That includes everything from marketing collateral, to high-end recruitment materials, to faculty publications, event signage, and even stationery.

Carlos Olvera comes face to ace with the in-plant's colorful gecko wall graphic as he runs UWG's new Horizon SPF-200L bookletmaker.

“We’re seeing excellent results in terms of color consistency, print quality, and overall speed – all critical in our fast-turnaround environment where branding and color standards are non-negotiable,” he says. “One standout feature has been the Indigo’s continuous print capability. The ability to run one job while setting up and proofing the next is a huge win for our efficiency and throughput. It’s a press that’s clearly built for production, and we’re just getting started.

“One of the most pleasant surprises has been how intuitive the entire operation is from the press interface itself to the integration with our workflow and the level of detail available in reporting and tracking,” he continues. “In an in-plant environment, it’s not uncommon to work with partners who aren’t deeply familiar with the printing process, so having a true production press rather than a production copier makes a major difference. HP understands presses and production printing, and that shows in both the design, performance, and support.”

From In-line to Near-Line Finishing

The Indigo isn’t the only recent capital investment Print and Mail Services has made. It added a Horizon SPF-200L booklet maker, which allowed the shop to move from in-line to near-line finishing, so production can keep running even if one piece goes down. That was driven, Post notes, by an incident where an in-line booklet maker went down, and “took the press down too, for two full weeks of production, which in our world is a backbreaker.”

Gabby Miller runs UWG's new HP Latex R1000 Plus wide-format printer.

Print and Mail Services also recently installed the HP Latex R1000 Plus wide-format printer. The latex technology appealed to Post, given it is both user friendly and environmentally safe.

“For example, we work with a major hospital system, and latex is not only acceptable for their use, it’s often preferred due to its low emissions and safe handling properties,” he says.

Carlos Olvera cuts a job on the Polar cutter.

Post isn’t content to stop there, however. Further out on the horizon, he has a few more investments in mind to help better position the in-plant for the future. One is the Quadient/Rena Mach 7 inkjet envelope printer, which he plans to bring in to replace two aging machines, as well as expand the shop’s offerings to more personalized, more vibrant mail pieces.

Further, Post is exploring digital embellishment options from companies like Scodix, Skandacor, or Nobelus. “These would allow us to offer specialty finishes such as sleeking, foiling, raised tactile elements, and spot varnish capabilities our customers have been increasingly requesting to make their pieces stand out in a saturated communications landscape,” he explains.

Finally, Post is considering taking a closer look at direct-to-garment/direct-to-film technologies at some point. He would like to add the ability to print custom apparel and textiles, but admits that at the moment, that is lower on his priority list.

“These investments reflect a broader strategy to scale intelligently while aligning with customer needs, industry trends, and operational resilience,” Post concludes.