Twelve months ago SOS Print + Media Group in Sydney installed KODAK’s high-performance inkjet web press solution, the KODAK PROSPER 1000 Press. Director Michael Schulz says the leap of faith the company took, in being the first in Australasia to install this new KODAK Technology, is definitely paying off.
“Being the first means we are ahead of the trend and at the forefront of innovation. That’s a very good place to be, especially in an environment where the ability to react quickly to market demands is tantamount to success,” said Schulz.
He continues: “We chose the KODAK PROSPER 1000 Press because we needed an inkjet solution that would deliver on speed and quality, and help us to improve productivity. Since the press was installed we’ve seen a quantum leap in productivity. We literally can’t do without this press now, as the volume of digital print work we are doing is only increasing.”
SOS Print + Media Group uses the KODAK PROSPER 1000 Press to produce a range of black-and-white books for its publishing clients. “We can print any quantity from 50 to 5,000 competitively on this press, which is ideally suited to an on-demand publishing environment,” confirms Schulz. He adds that there have also been times when the KODAK PROSPER 1000 Press has been used for longer runs that previously would have been printed offset. “The KODAK PROSPER 1000 Press is so fast that we’ve been able to print these high-volume jobs to maintain a high level of productivity in the workflow.”
Schulz says the installation of the KODAK PROSPER 1000 Press has resulted in the company migrating a growing percentage of its offset work to the inkjet platform. “This is proving very successful for us, and our clients are impressed with the results. Plus we have been able to pitch for work that we were previously unable to compete on. As a consequence we are attracting new business.”
“We are pushing through up to 40 million impressions on the KODAK PROSPER 1000 Press each month. And the KODAK PROSPER 1000 Press recently enabled us to retain a large account—millions of impressions per month—that was under threat of going offshore. Offset and toner-based technologies were unable to compete, but the KODAK PROSPER 1000 Press proved to be the ideal solution.”
Schulz says with KODAK Stream Inkjet Technology the company can print competitively and at the same time meet the strict turnaround times its clients expect. “We are running the KODAK PROSPER 1000 Press at its full speed of 200 meters a minute. This is a robust machine and we are working it hard.”
In recent months SOS Print + Media Group amalgamated its digital business unit, bringing all services under the one roof. “The KODAK PROSPER 1000 was originally housed in a separate location from the rest of our digital workflow, but that proved very inefficient,” explains Schulz. “In October we amalgamated our entire digital operation and have combined this division with our warehousing and distribution center, which is a growth business for us. While print on demand is definitely growing, some items are still better printed in bulk, and then stored and distributed as required.”
Schulz says that with any new technology there is always a learning curve, “but our operators have embraced the challenge, and now that they are confident with it they are discovering the many opportunities this technology presents. There are a lot of benefits with the KODAK PROSPER 1000, including the fact that you save significant time in finishing, as jobs come off the press and are ready to go straight into the bindery. The speed of the press gives us true flexibility in our workflow.”
“We are extremely pleased with the results we have achieved to date and are confident that this technology will continue to drive positive results for us,” concludes Schulz.
Kodak is a global advisor and provider of integrated services to help companies transform and optimize their businesses. Through a network of service professionals in 120+ countries, Kodak provides technical, professional, consulting and managed services to enable customers to focus on growing their businesses, maximize productivity, and more effectively manage risks. All KODAK Products and Software are backed by KODAK Service and Support. To learn more, visit www.graphics.kodak.com.
About SOS Print + Media Group
Established in 1976, SOS Print + Media Group employs upwards of 125 staff across its two sites. Head office is in Alexandria, Sydney. In Brisbane, SOS Print + Media Group has part ownership of CPX Print and Logistics. SOS Print + Media Group is a privately owned company and one of the largest digital print on demand provider in Australia.
A full service print communications provider, SOS Print + Media Group delivers a comprehensive range of services from print management through to warehousing fulfillment. Its core digital business lies in publishing with the vast majority of digital print work comprising books and magazines for leading publishing houses in the consumer, trade and educational markets. Its commercial print management services also extend to FMCG and other markets such as health, finance and cosmetics.
About Kodak
As the world’s foremost imaging innovator, Kodak helps consumers, businesses, and creative professionals unleash the power of images, information, and printing to enrich their lives.
In the graphic communications industry, Kodak serves customers in the printing, publishing, packaging and enterprise markets with intelligent solutions for competitive advantage and greater return on investment.
Kodak helps customers adapt, transform and grow their businesses. Through a comprehensive product and solutions portfolio that integrates revolutionary technologies, smart automation and specialized services, Kodak supplies customers operating in traditional, hybrid and digital graphic environments the broadest choice of software, production products and services for creating and managing high value variable output efficiently and cost effectively.
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