Exciting advances open up new low-investment revenue-boosting possibilities.
With every high street printer fighting for business and seeking ways to replace core markets, promises of new revenue-making opportunities are as rare as water in a desert. So the news that printer vendor OKI is strengthening its focus on the professional print market is a refreshing development in the dry world of diminishing profits.
Although known for its B2B printers, OKI has always been at the forefront of colour, making high quality more affordable and practical. Its pioneering work in LED technology has led to such landmarks as the launch of the world’s most compact A3 LED colour printer a decade ago.
OKI has been looking at ways professional printers can diversify, sharpen their differentiators and maintain profitability through greater efficiencies, without an eye-watering price tag. It has also been addressing other challenges usually connected with digital printing. For example, most recently it has been the first to offer CMYK plus white or clear gloss on a digital printer and is the only company offering a device printing neon colours in its portfolio. Previously these processes could only be achieved through the use of lithographic processes.
Consequently, whether a litho house wants to dip its toe in the digital market without major investment or an established digital printer or creative house wants to cut lead times and act with more flexibility, OKI’s new push is certainly worth a closer look.
Examples of the value added applications possible using OKI printers
It opens up new possibilities in printing on packaging and other media, in offering retailers dazzling and attention-grabbing point of sale materials and in presenting all clients with fast-moving stock a chance to update and revitalise brochures and catalogues on demand to keep up with increasingly fickle customer requirements.
Shorter runs for personalised products
One area where OKI can really help is short run printing on a wide range of media. Its devices are ideal for test runs, for ‘prototyping’ packaging and more, or producing fast proofs to show clients and then tweaking them on the spot to ensure each detail is precisely correct before moving on to a high volume run.
Alternatively, it also enables print shops to offer personalised products and packaging – one of the major trends revealed at this year’s drupa. This tactic has already been used by mega-brands such as Coca Cola and Heinz, but could now be easily translated by smaller producers, particularly those offering luxury goods or niche products.
Print on more products
Another great benefit of the next generation of printers is their ability to print on heavy media. In the past, printing on non-standard and heavy stock with a digital printer often lead to the toner not fusing with the media, resulting in quality issues and subsequently increased wastage. The alternative was, of course, to use traditional litho printing – but for shorter runs, this was a lengthy and expensive process.
Now, thanks to single-pass flat paper path technology and in-built media calibration, digital printers have far more flexibility. They can handle media of up to 360 gsm in sheet sizes from A6 to SRA3 or banners up to 1.3 m.
OKI also offers models for the transfer media market offering a low-investment alternative to screen printing and direct-to-garment. This gives smaller print houses access to many profit-boosting opportunities from printing T-shirts and mugs to candles, and – as one company has already demonstrated – personalised leather jackets. Quick and easy set-up means businesses can get to work bringing these opportunities to profit immediately after purchase.
White and gloss open up further possibilities
Another challenge has always been printing solid crisp white on a range of backgrounds. Traditionally, printing white text or graphics has been limited to either using white media or the costly and lengthy process of screen printing.
Today, printers can do this, in addition to CMYK, enabling cost-effective short run printing on coloured or transparent stock, providing a new vibrancy and definition of colour. They can print a white background onto a dark substrate and then overlay a colour design to stunning effect.
OKI’s Pro9541 offers white and clear effects in addition to CMYK
Similarly, printing spot clear glass to draw attention to particular
elements of a design can involve costly, intricate and lengthy processes, usually with the expense outweighing the benefits. Now printers can add clear gloss to short runs, printing in four-colour and then adding a spot clear gloss finish in one pass.
Neon draws attention
One of the most radical recent developments is the launch of ground-breaking neon toner technology with interchangeable black or white toner. This makes it easy to include glowing, fluorescent effects on either dark or light backgrounds. It can even be used to create a security mark which is only revealed under a black UV light or to provide a white background for transfer to dark substrates.
In this way, neon capability gives access to a range of new revenue-boosting opportunities. High value printed output such as point of sale banners, clothing and product decoration are quickly produced using neon colour for maximum impact. The devices will also print transfers for fluorescent neon designs on ceramic, plastic and metal, control panels and gauges, window stickers, number plates and car dealer stickers.
Used in conjunction with professional design software, neon could also open up markets in sectors as varied as fashion, manufacturing and automotive.
There’s no doubt that professional printers now have to work harder and longer to achieve their margins and to continue to make their business viable. But OKI’s professional range provides new potential to be explored at an affordable price to ensure fast return on investment, especially as their small footprint fits into any existing premises. How this potential is realised is now down to individual businesses – but in an industry where creativity is never in short supply, this part should be simple.
For further information contact OKI:
01784 274300
This article is an advertorial; the featured company created the wording and paid for its placement. It has been thoroughly checked by Whitmar Publications to ensure that the information is accurate and meets our standards.
