Pittsburgh-based Fotorecord Print Center has installed a Fujifilm JetPress 750S as it completes its transition from offset to an all-digital environment.

The company, which has been in business for 28 years and employs 20 people, said the move to digital has allowed it to diversify its print offerings and provide longer run booklets, large versioned poster work, more versatile pocket folder offerings, and variable data direct mailers. It has also resulted in increased efficiency and shorter run times.

Aarona Tesch, Fujifilm North America’s product manager, inkjet technologies, explained that, ‘The installation of the JetPress at Fotorecord is especially exciting because it represents a trend we’re seeing in the industry of complete transition from offset to digital. The JetPress has opened Fotorecord up to new types of business and, as a result, increased market penetration in the greater Pittsburgh area.’

Fotorecord was initially considering investing in a larger offset press, in order to compete with the other offset businesses that exist in Pittsburgh. However, after observing the industry’s shift toward digital printing, the company began to consider alternative solutions. 

Key considerations included a larger potential sheet size, inkjet colour consistency, the ability to print onto more substrates and heavier weights for printing, as well as the potential of printing variable data pieces.

The JetPress was only chosen after a detailed cost analysis and a review of ROI scenarios. Fotorecord even outsourced some work to other digital printing companies to gain market knowledge and examine the finished product.

Owner Paul Nickoloff explained, ‘We certainly did our homework in making this decision. When crunching all the numbers and projecting the return on investment as well as the amount of new business we could gain, the decision became clear to invest in going all-digital with the JetPress.’

He continued, ‘Offset printers are now sending us work that they can’t complete as quickly or efficiently as Fotorecord can through the use of our new JetPress. We’re earning new business with companies we were previously unable to support with our old offset press. The JetPress remains the key to our continued growth and success.’