VSP Direktmarketing KG moves into high-end digital web-fed printing with a Xeikon 6000

VSP Direktmarketing KG, one of Germany's largest direct marketing service providers, is targeting the web-fed digital color printing market following investment in a Xeikon 6000. The press will enable VSP customers to benefit from the fast production of top-quality, personalized print products on digital and offset printing papers, and on synthetic substrates.

Headquartered in Plate, near Schwerin, VSP’s commitment to adopting the latest technology ensures it remains a leader in personalized digital printing. Its 70 employees provide solutions for developing and producing a broad range of direct mail print applications. The company offers an end-to-end service: from concept development to graphic design, personalization and production, through to dispatch. VSP’s customer base includes leading companies in the service sector and in industries such as tourism, retail, banking and insurance.

Established as "Versand-Service Plate" 20 years ago, providing offset print services, VSP entered the digital color printing market five years ago with the installation of two systems from different manufacturers. Because of the high level of productivity as well as the option of combining services with offset printing and offline downstream processing systems, VSP decided to focus its investment strategy on digital toner-based web-fed printing.

Following a comprehensive market analysis of the different systems available, VSP decided to run a number of printing tests with Xeikon - ending in the purchase of a Xeikon 6000 during drupa 2012. The key factors influencing VSP’s decision were print quality and substrate versatility. "With the Xeikon 6000, we achieved a resolution of 1200 dpi with variable color density,” explains Gregor Weisse, Sales and Marketing Manager at VSP. “We can simultaneously personalize on both sides with five colors on papers and carton board, as well as synthetic media, up to 350g/m² with a maximum width of 508 mm and any length. The One-Pass-Duplex^TM process guarantees registration accuracy and data integrity, while the series-connected downstream roll processing ensures fast, problem-free finishing."

Also other important considerations were energy consumption, sustainability and the option of using offset printing papers. The Xeikon 6000 offers excellent energy efficiency while delivering a high level of productivity. Plus the use of offset printing papers enables the production of high-quality hybrid solutions – for example, mixed print products in both offset and digital printing.

"The light-fast and solvent-free toners, and the digitally printed paper that is highly de-inkable and 100% recyclable support our drive towards environmentally friendly printing,” adds Weisse. “It also helps us meet growing customer demand for carbon-neutral print products. The print quality is now indistinguishable from offset printing. And the wide variety of options to print variable data means we can meet even the most unusual customer requirements. This digital web-fed printing system could have been made just for us!"

Xeikon 6000 for toner-based, digital high-end roll printing

The Xeikon 6000 enables simultaneous double-sided printing in one production run. The system processes different materials up to a maximum width of 508 mm and weights of 40 to 350 g/m² of virtually unlimited length. In five-color printing, a printing speed of 12 m/min is achieved.

The system prints in excellent image quality with automatic true-to-register colors and perfect registration accuracy between front and reverse. With a genuine resolution of 1200 dpi, as well as a variable color density, Xeikon offers maximum resolution in the roll printing sector. And thanks to the electro photographic dry toner process, standard offset printing papers can be used without pre-treatment or a coating application. The digitally printed paper is de-inkable and 100% recyclable.