Canon U.S.A.

Do your homework before switching to a digital copier. And consult with your IT folks to make sure you can network it later. "The buzz word impacting everyone is digital. Digital is here to stay." That's the word from Jeff Smith, director of consumer services for Buyers Laboratory, a Hackensack, N.J.-based consumer advocate for buyers of office equipment. But don't ditch that analog copier yet, Smith says. Although copier manufacturers are beginning the phasing-out process, analog copiers are going to be around longer than most people think. "It's not going to be a short-term thing," says Smith. "I believe it will take

University of Washington Publications Services Seattle, Wash. As the largest university in-plant on the IPG Top 50 list, University of Washington Publications Services has an impressive operation. Not only does it fill a three-story, 48,000-square-foot building on the edge of the Seattle campus, but it includes 16 copy centers, two of which are located off campus. In addition to printing and copying, the mega-in-plant handles all of the university's incoming and outgoing mail—a massive undertaking, and part of the reason that Publications Services employs a staggering 160 full-time employees and 112 part-timers. But why? Why does a university need such

Spartan Stores Grand Rapids, Mich. Growth would be an understatement when talking about the changes that have taken place at Spartan Stores' in-plant over its 35-year existence. The Midwestern grocery wholesaler, located in Grand Rapids, Mich., began its in-plant with just a one-color duplicator used for printing company bulletins, according to David DeWildt, director of printing and design at Spartan. Since then, Spartan's in-plant has grown into a 36,000-square-foot, full-service print shop, which includes three Heidelberg sheetfed presses, four Goss webs, 43 Macintosh workstations and full binding and copying capabilities. And there are no plans for stopping there, let alone downsizing. DeWildt

While color is predominantly restricted to sales and marketing materials today, it will gradually be integrated into internal documents as well. Color represents one of the largest growth areas for in-plants in the foreseeable future. In the four years from 1997 to 2001, annual impressions from production process color printing systems (25 ppm and faster) are predicted to skyrocket from 1.03 billion to 10.08 billion, according to the "U. S. Print On Demand Market Forecast 1996-2001" issued by CAP Ventures last year. Offering in-house color reproduction services is an excellent way to capitalize on this dizzying growth, while providing customers with

Meeting tight deadlines is even tougher when your equipment breaks down. Sometimes selecting the right paper is the key to productivity. When the duplicating department at New York law firm Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson receives a printing request from one of the firm's attorneys, it knows the urgency and quality requirements that come with the request. Whether it's a brief from a bankruptcy case, a subpoena or a client document, the in-plant knows it must produce the material right away—no matter what time of day it is or what day of the week. With constant deadline pressure, the 18-employee in-plant must

Australian in-plant managers joined with quick printers for the first conference of its kind in Australia. Some things are the same everywhere. One can travel halfway around the world, for example, and still hear about the importance of good service and good communication in a printing operation. Those two themes popped up repeatedly at Pacific Print Congress 98, held recently in Melbourne, Australia. Speakers, both American and Australian, stressed that, in a sea of competition, customers are looking for vendors they can trust; vendors who will go that extra step for them. "Become consultants to these people, not just order takers,"

The Sands Hotel and Casino in-plant plays a huge part in the organization's direct marketing efforts. A casino is a living, glittering dream world—a fantasy of flashing lights and free drinks; a place where mounds of money chips and jangling jackpots of coins seem within easy reach. Naturally, every casino wants you to pull its levers and toss money on its tables. So how do the successful ones get you in their doors? Direct marketing. At least that's the case at the Sands Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, N.J. By mailing personalized statements out to frequent players, combined with coupons for free