Xerox iGen3 & Variable Data Printing

The challenge for owners of a Xerox iGen3 or Xerox 6060 is how to take advantage of the power offered by a high volume, digital copier in reaching out to potential print clients. The goals are two-fold, discover cost savings and drive revenue growth.

George Linkletter, a columnist for Output Links, addressed an innovative new process earlier this year in a piece on customer communication that can be found here. Linkletter writes about all-in-one pieces, in which a direct mail piece is also the envelope. The fully customizable product is a solid example of the power of variable data printing. With the color envelope, commercial printers can offer a cost effective and unique product to customers.

The key to selling variable data printing is to create distinct products that show clear savings to clients and are eye catching. Take advantage of the power of high speed, color digital duplicators with quicker turnaround and a higher level of individualized service.

If you're considering a Xerox iGen3 or need advice on variable data printing, please consider talking to JJ Bender.

Xerox Profits Rise

Xerox profit's rose last quarter, thanks to a one-time tax-related gain and improved profits on digital color equipment and the toner that the Xerox iGen3 runs on. The full breakdown of the numbers is available here.

The real profit engine for Xerox continues to the Xerox 6060 and Xerox iGen3, as commercial printers need the color and black ink that Xerox supplies. The sales of supplies and parts is being supported now by Xerox service and consulting offerings, as customers are looking for complete solutions.

If you're considering the purchase of a Xerox iGen3 or even leasing a digital copier, please consider talking to JJ Bender.

The Relevance of Print in a Digital World

All the comments of copier executives should be taken with the caveat that their job is dependent on their company’s ability to sell digital copiers; however, the statement released by Jeff Jacobson, the Chief Operating Office of Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group, was poignant.

“There is no sign of anything, anywhere that could replace print and what it does. Like every market segment, the print industry is changing and evolving," said Jacobson. "Print, a 500-year-old industry, remains as relevant and important as ever because of its longevity, adaptability, mobility and acceptability," said Jacobson during the Web Offset Association’s 54th Annual Conference.

He talked about the importance of variable data printing, referring to tailored mail pieces and catalogues.

"This is a huge opportunity for us if we look at how we can bring additional value to customers who once upon a time just came to us for ink on paper. If the conversation is about how marketers can get a bigger return on investment, we're no longer talking about cost per piece. We're talking about performance--and print performs."

Jacobson, hit on the concept of individualization which is driving the copier market. As equipment like the Xerox 2060 and Xerox iGen3 is capable of producing variable print materials, customers have experienced increased access to new marketing approaches and mailings.

The text of Jacobson's remarks can be found at http://www.graphics.kodak.com/.

Variable Data Printing & the Xerox iGen3

If you're wondering about how your print shop can get into the arena of variable data printing, then you should start with Ted Seward's comprehensive article on Output Links here.

Seward does a nice job of summarizing the key aspects of variable data printing, looking at the ways you can market the product and some of the mistakes made by first timers. Seward looks at technological obstacles and which customers might find such a service useful for selling their product or service.

The latest series of Xerox DocuColor equipment like the Xerox iGen3 and Xerox 6060 are in essence built for variable data printing. Those digital production presses have the memory capability, proper features, and can handle a high volume production environment required by variable data printing.

If you're considering a digital production press or need advice on which color digital equipment might be appropriate for you, please consider talking to JJ Bender.

Xerox Releases First Quarter 2006 Earnings

In news that surprised analysts on Wall Street, but probably not the digital copier market, Xerox reported a drop in revenue for the first quarter of 2006. Total revenue fell two percent to $3.70 billion from $3.78 billion in fiscal 2005.

Xerox showed a profit of $186 million, 20 cents a share, after preferred dividends compared to $196 million, 20 cents, last year. Wall Street analysts had predicted 21 cents a share in profits with revenue of $3.8 billion.

At the same time, gross margins slipped 1.6 percentage points to 40.2 percent.
The numbers reflect the slowdown in the high volume black and white digital copier market. Xerox has not been able to move its high volume black and white equipment at the same impressive rate as its more popular Xerox DocuColor series, including models like the Xerox 6060 and Xerox iGen3.

Xerox is also facing strong competition from Canon with its Canon imageRUNNER 110, which runs on the same print engine as the Heidelberg 9110, Kodak NexPress 9110, and IBM Infoprint 2000. The high volume black-and-white models from Canon have a lower sticker price and found a strong following in the commercial print arena.

The full details of Xerox's quarter can be found here. If you're looking at a high volume, digital duplicator from Xerox, please consider talking to JJ Bender.

Fonts for High Volume Digital Duplicators

As front ends got more complex and the possibilities for printing on demand increases, the need for quality control in fonts and designs is critical to companies with high volume digital production presses.

COPI announced recently, that it is introducing FontTuneZ, a product designed to maintain the integrity of fonts when switching platforms or production machines. It's an interesting product designed to help ensure software compability and eliminate some of the issues when you upgrade from a Xerox 2060 to a Xerox 6060 for example.

With the automation of digital print runs and the prevalence of variable data printing, the development of an aftermarket that targets design and software issues was inevitable. It will be interesting to see what the digital copier market demands next and which major company will choose to step into the vacuum.

If you're looking for a digital copier like a Xerox iGen3, then please consider talking to JJ Bender.

Xerox iGen3 90 Digital Production Press

Get ready for the latest model to hit the showrooms, the Xerox iGen3 will soon be available in a 90 page per minute model. The launch of the Xerox iGen3 90 Digital Production Press is scheduled for this summer.

At 90 pages a minute and with a sticker price of $499,000- this is meant to be a lower entry point for companies looking for a robust, digital color solution. The Xerox iGen3 90 comes just a year after the launch of the Xerox iGen3 110, which bumped up the production speed of the first model launched in 2002 to 110 pages per minute.

The Xerox iGen has become synonymous with the custom publishing world as commercial printers look to its ability to generate large print runs with minimal operator intervention. In addition, its been a profit generator for everything from variable data marketing to flipbooks.

If you're looking into purchasing or leasing a Xerox iGen3, please consider talking to JJ Bender.

Xerox: More than Just Digital Duplicators?

It seems that Xerox is looking to take over the entire office, not just the
digital duplicating end through products like the Xerox iGen3. On
Friday, Xerox rolled out two new content management software
products, the DocuSHare CPX and DocuShare 5.0. The software is
designed to help corporations manage financials, streamline IT support,
and improve compliance with government standards. (The complete
Xerox press release is available here.)

Content management software is an exploding business and the power
to establish brand and customer loyalty is a powerful motivator for
Xerox.

Just like Microsoft, Xerox is looking to cross-sell its office products,
creating a line of content management software to compliment its
traditional copier business. In addition, Xerox is moving towards a
wireless, networked office by making DocuShare a completely online
platform. With variable data printing possible on the Xerox 6060
and Xerox 2060, are we that far off from customer relationship
software that can be synched to the Fiery or CREO controller on
your digital duplicator.

That's the future of commercial print shops- being able to seamlessly
integrate customer purchasing habits with promotional materials to
create highly targeted, custom marketing pieces. And doing all of that,
without ever needing operator intervention.
Xerox already has scanning software that allows users to take hardcopy
documents into digital documents via its FreeFlow SMARTsend
technology.

The new content management software is expected to be available in
April. If you're looking for digital duplicators or wondering about the
future of the graphics industry, please consider talking to JJ Bender.

Pitney Bowes: A Work in Progress

A stalwart of the graphics industry, Pitney Bowes , will have a shift in its timeframe for a proposed spin-off of its Capital Services external financing business. In a release today, Pitney Bowes talked about the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) asking for three years of additional, audited financial statements. Accordingly, that would move the timeframe for the spin-off back to 2007.

The spin-off was first announced as a possibility in 2003 when Pitney Bowes was looking at selling assets and adding shareholder value. Spin-offs have been in vogue for publicly traded companies, as large corporations look to divide their growth areas and income-generating divisions into separate entities. The highly publicized splits of American Express and Viacom have met with mixed results on Wall Street; but have brought more attention to the practice of spinning-off divisions.

In a related note, Pitney Bowes has signed a definitive agreement with De Lage Landen Operational Services, LLC (a subsidiary of the RaboBank Group) to sell Imagistics International, Inc.'s lease portfolio. The terms are estimated at between $280 and $290 million depending on accounts receivable at the time of the deal closing. The lease portfolio is a part of the Capital Services spin-off.

Capital Services is designed to provide leasing to non-Pitney Bowes equipment in three sectors, capital equipment, vendor financing, and commercial real estate.

If you're looking into leasing copier equipment or want advice on digital duplicators, please consider talking to JJ Bender.

Xerox taking the show on the road

Are you ready to go digital now and take the plunge on a digital color copier? Xerox is hoping to convince commercial print shop owners with a mobile presentation co-sponsored by Enovation and EFI.

Launched in Februrary and continuing through the end of this month, the 'Go Digital Now' Tour focuses on the Xerox 240 and Xerox 250 digital color copier and printer. The traveling exhibit allows users to demo machines and get more information on the digital gear as well as the EFI's Fiery Network Controller and Fiery EXP250 server.

The Xerox 240 has been a popular seller since its introduction because of its compact size and robust engine. Widely considered as a first step into the digital marketplace, the Xerox DocuColor 240 runs high speed color and black-and-white.

This is one of Xerox's first attempts to go after office managers and quick printers with the same machine. If you're looking at the Xerox 250 or color digital copiers, please consider JJ Bender.

What are people running on the Xerox DocuColor iGen3 ?

First and foremost, thanks to everyone at OutPut Links. They posted our release about this site and we had a nice spike in traffic. They do a great job of outlining industry news and trends- it's a site worth your bookmark and time.

On to the Xerox DocuColor iGen3 at hand. We've been hearing about three major areas of business products and developments from users of the iGen3.

1. On-Demand, Online ordering

The idea that you can create customized pieces in small batches has taken off. The reach of the Internet has allowed commercial printers to dramatically increase their customer base. The flip-side is that pricing has become increasingly competitive on the Internet and margins with print runs on digital copiers should always be closely watched.

2. Book Production

The Xerox iGen3 was built to compete with the offset press. The move to digital printing is a slow erosion of the plate-based offset system as custom or electronic publishing has exploded. It's fascinating to watch the number of printers offering book production services.

3. Insert Advertising

As companies search for new ways to cross sell their product and cut through the advertising clutter, the inclusion of personally addressed, direct mail pieces has seemed a great alternative. Look for signs of variable data printing, the next time you open a credit card statement.
If you're looking for a Xerox iGen3, we hope you'll consider JJ Bender.

Oce VarioPrint series

Oce has thrown it's hat in the black and white digital copier ring, looking to high volume users to drive new growth in their business with a new family of multifunctional black and white systems known as the Oce VarioPrint.

The VarioPrint 1055/1065/1075 run at 55, 62, and 72 pages per minute while the Oce VarioPrint 2062 and 2075 run at 62 and 72 pages per minute respectively.
There's also a host of production and finishing options as Oce looks to compete with the Kodak Nexpress 9110, IBM InfoPrint 2000, and Digimaster 9150 .

The Oce SMART mailbox allows PDF printing from a USB memory card and the OCE INtuiGraph user interface features a wizard button to guide you through the document set up process. An Oce Genie or Genie Pro controller is available for scanning and a scan to e-mail function is available.

The only question now is how successful the new product line, the Oce VarioPrint series will be. If you're looking for high volume copiers, please consider JJ Bender.

HP Posts Strong 1st Quarter in 2006 thanks to the Indigo Press

Hewlett Packard announced it's first quarter 2006 numbers last week, and if you didn't think the HP Indigo Press 5000 was a big deal in the digital press market- think again.

A good quarter, which featured $22.5 billion in net revenue was driven in large part by the $6.5 billion from the imaging and printing group. While this includes consumer hardware, it also includes commercial hardware, digital presses like the HP 1050, and HP Indigo 3050.

HP cited an 8 percent year-over-year growth that was driven in large part by a whopping 36 percent jump in color laser printers. HP is striving to turn the offset printing market into a completely digital workplace and it's working.

The Indigo line is a competitor for the Xerox iGen3 and Konica Minolta CPP500. If you're looking for digital presses or need production equipment, please consider JJ Bender.

Variable Information Printing and the Xerox iGen3

All direct mailing houses depend on finding innovative ways to improve the response rate. Every corporation needs to create a unique marketing piece in order to motivate customers to action.

In this weeks On Demand Journal, Tom Wetjen has a great article that discusses the ways in which variable information printing can change your response rates and profits margins whether you're running a Xerox 6060 or Xerox iGen3.

Wetjen discusses a printer who experimented with flipbooks on a Xerox DocuColor 8000, and had an eye popping 50 percent response rate. The key to getting in front of customers and staying in front of them is through unique and lasting marketing pieces.

If you want more information on variable data printing or digital production presses, please consider JJ Bender.

Canon begins to consolidate digital market

Canon continues to make a play for consolidation in the U.S. market, looking to bolster its nationwide network of digital copier sales teams. Last week Canon U.S.A., Inc. announced that it would acquire Uinta Business Systms Inc. retaining President Joe Weis. (The full press release is here courtesy of Output Links)

Canon is in the midst of a dramatic reorganization that is designed to push sales and increase the aftermarket value for its digital color and black-and-white business. The imageRUNNER series continues to be successful for Canon with the latest model, the Canon IR 150, establishing a niche in the marketplace.

If you're looking for a Canon digital copier, please consider talking to us at JJ Bender.

Copier Paper Trends

You don't often think about the copier paper that you run through your Xerox iGen3 or Nexpress 9110. As long as the weight is correct and the ink doesn't run, a commercial printer will often just opt for the cheapiest or most reliable source source of paper.

A recent white paper released by InfoTrends and announced at What They Think discusses the impact of paper merchants on the paper distribution chain. The ultimate conclusion is that paper purchases are still based on relationships. Quick printers and other buyers still look to paper merchants and brokers for information on new products and innovations.

If you're looking into a digital copier to use with all that copier paper, please consider JJ Bender.

Xplor prepares for Graphics of the Americas

Graphics of the Americas and the Global Document Exchange sponsored by Xplor is set for February 1-5, 2006- a combination of seminars and product demonstrations.

One of the largest graphic industry conventions of the year will focus on variable data printing. Conference seminars will cover selling variable data and how to maximize profits with color digital production gear. The exhibit and trade show will take place at the Miami Beach Conference Center.

This is the 31st annual Graphic of the Americas convention and in conjunction with the Xplor conference there will be presentations on photo shop and creative suite software for photographers and commercial printers. For more information on variable data printing, please visit JJ Bender.

IBM makes a play in the digital production market

Danit Lidor's recent article in a Forbes Business Newsletter discussed the new prominence of IBM in the digital color market. She talked about the IBM InfoPrint 4100 and the recent software launch in the past three months as IBM looks to grow, what is quickly become a billion-dollar business.

Lidor focused on two new software pieces, InfoPrint Transform Manager and Print Services Facility.

"The automation technology, called virtualization, is built into the company's Infoprint Transform manager for Linux and the latest release of its Print Services Facility (PSF). The software allows large companies that print thousands of documents a minute to streamline the production process," explained Lidor in her piece.

The launch of the new software signals IBM's transition from just providing copiers or printers to providing complete end-to-end solutions which are focused on networking capability and designed for commercial printers.

If you're looking for large, digital copiers or presses, please consider JJ Bender.

Stop the Presses: Heidelberg Announces Larger Presses in the Works

As Heidelberg continues to expand in the color digital market with digital production presses, they haven't forgotten about their bread and butter- sheetfed presses.

The next generation of presses, scheduled for rollout in 2008, will be the largest Heidelberg presses ever, the 6 (40.2 x 55.9 in) and 7b (47.2 x 63.8 in) will be known as the Speedmaster XL 142 and Speedmaster XL 162.

"Moving to a larger format extends our offering in the sheetfed sector. Heidelberg thus intends to enhance its lead in the largest market segment of the print media industry," said Bernhard Schreier, CEO of Heidleberger Druckmaschninen AG.

The new machines will be targetted towards packaging, with the large-format sheeted presses used for printing and finishing folding cartons. This will likely include the folders and cutters needed as finishing options.

Heidelberg is looking towards larger format gear, focusing on marketing the Digimaster 9110 at the same time.

If you're looking for digital production presses, please consider JJ Bender.

Used Copiers- the New Thing?

As technology improves and customers become more demanding, the shelf life of used copiers is increasing with commercial print shops looking to used high volume printers as a cost efficient alternative to new gear.

The marketplace paradigm shift is occuring across the board according to the New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/03/business/yourmoney/03money.html?emc=eta1. The article in the NYT this weekend discussed the burgeoning market in refurbished consumer electronics and robust demand for used books and household items. Used is being called the new 'new.'

We're seeing similar trends in the graphics industry as color digital equipment decreases in price dramatically while still retaining its usefulness. Customers are becoming more savvy and recognizing that, in many cases, a used machine offers the most reasonable alternative for producing color copies.

If you're looking for used high volume copiers, please consider JJ Bender.

Digital Color Drives Xerox Growth

The future of Xerox was discussed at its annual investor conference today with CEO Anne Mulcahy pointing to digital color equipment, specifically the Xerox iGen 3 , as the leading growth prospects for Xerox.

"Just as Xerox created the market for digital black-and-white printing, we're leading the transition to color, making quality color printing more affordable and easier to use for businesses of any size," said Mulcahy.

She also stated that she expects the color market to double by 2009. Currently, 29 percent of Xerox's revenue is derived from selling color digital duplicators and peripherals with revenue growing by 18 percent this year.

The numbers don't rely, as more than 10 billion pages will be produced on Xerox color production equipment this year alone on machines like the Xerox 6060 and Xerox 2060.

The price of color gear continues to be lowered as new technology is introduced and the initial generation of large production boxes like the Xerox 8000 get ready to enter the aftermarket. If you're looking for color production equipment, please consider JJ Bender.

Konica Minolta Acquires Simmons Business Systems

As part of it's continual push into the digital color market, Konica Minolta announced that it has acquired Simmons Business Systems in Bethel Park, PA. The dealership, founded in 1975 by Ron Simmons, is a major player in the Pittsburgh and surrounding areas. The deal gives Konica Minolta additional penetration into a strong market.

With the KM CPP8050, the KM 1050, and the KM C500, Konica Minolta is competing successfully with Xerox and Canon in the highly lucrative digital color arena. This acquisition signals that Konica Minolta is making a real push, placing as much emphasis on selling their products as the development of new technology.

This likely won't be the last acquisition for Konica Minolta or any of the major players, as the graphics industry continues to experience consolidation.

If you're looking for a Konica Minolta machine or high volume digital color copier, please consider JJ Bender.

Xerox hopes digital color market improves earnings

As Xerox nears it's latest quarterly earnings conference call on Oct. 21, all eyes look towards its digital division. The major profit engine for the Xerox over the past 18 months has been a renewed emphasis on digital color equipment. And Xerox has been rewarded with skyrocketing sales as customers have clamored for the Xerox iGen3 and Nuvera 100 systems.

The Nuvera 100 is the latest digital production system with scalability and high-capacity making it a perfect fit for publishers, in-plant print shops, and quick printing operations. Xerox is hoping that the transition of the graphics industry to color will continue to be a boon for the rest of this decade.

If you're looking at a digital color solution, please look in the direction of JJ Bender.

What do commercial printers and family farms have in common?

Sadly, quite a bit. The name of the game in the graphics industry is consolidation, according to a recent report issued by Grant Thornton LLP and the Printing Industries of America. As margins continue to shrink on many items produced by commercial printers, conglomerates are swallowing up independent firms.

In addition, the cost of high volume, digital equipment (think Xerox iGen3, Xerox DocuColor 8000s, or Canon IR 9070s) is creating a barrier to technology upgrades or even entry into the already competitive market of on-demand printing.

"The industry's margins have decreased in some markets because of the overabundance of supply and competition," says Alex Laskowski, a partner with Grant Thornton.

According to the national printing industry survey, 65 percent of respondents expected to see some sort of merger, acquisition, or restructuring activity this year. But consolidation is not always a bad thing, as the survey indicated that 55 percent of respondents expected an increase in margins in 2006.

If you're looking at staying competitive or need help restructuring, please consider JJ Bender.

Canon and Adobe: An imageRUNNER made in heaven?

An old parable encourages businesses to work smarter, not harder. The recent collaboration between Adobe and Canon looks to be a great example of how two solid products can be combined to form a terrific solution for commercial printers and corporations that are knee-deep in paperwork.

The joint effort between Canon and Adobe Systems Incorporated, announced earlier this month, will focus on developing paper-to-digital scanning, security, and print solutions for the imageRUNNER line, including the Canon imageRUNNER 105 (ir 105), imageRUNNER 110 (ir 110), and imageRUNNER 125 (ir 125).

The system will be based off Adobe's Portable Document Format (PDF) and in theory will help corporations running a Canon imageRUNNER 9070 for example, to convert from paper to digital workflows.

"Canon is focused on improving productivity in the office," said Masaki Nakaoka, Chief Executive of Office Imaging Products Operations at Canon Inc. in the recent press release.

If you're looking for a Canon imageRUNNER or other high volume, digital duplicator, please consider JJ Bender.

What paper should I use with my digital copier?

In order to know the capabilities of a digital press, you have to know what paper, or substrates, it will accept. Depending on the needs of your shop, it very likely could be the difference in choosing a Xerox DocuColor 2060 over a Konica Minolta CPP500.

Just like everything else these days, there is a website that will answer all your questions. Visit PaperSpecs.com, a membership-based website that details what paper can be paired with what high-volume copier.

These folks are straightforward, not recommending paper per se, but instead what would be a good fit.
Once you've got your paper situation figured out, please consider JJ Bender for your equipment.

Digital Printing Creativity

You might not think of commercial printers who use digital duplicators as artists- but digital printing is the latest medium for graphic artists and design firms.

Whether they're using a Nexpress 9110, a Xerox iGen3, or a Xerox DocuColor 6060, printers are using the flexibility and wide-ranging capability of digital printers to create exciting new pieces for clients.

In her article for Creativepro.com, Molly Joss discusses the ability of high volume digital duplicators to handle a variety of paper and ink inputs. Joss elucidates the best way to avoid bleeds and ensure high quality in every job.

The only things limiting your ability to produce brochures and pamphlets that will astonish your clients is your imagination and the substrate that your DocuColor 8000 or Canon ClC 5000 can handle.

For all your digital printing and copying needs, please consider JJ Bender.

The New York Times is a Commercial Printer?

Now, commercial printers don't just have to compete with each other for customers.

In an effort to combat declining ad revenues and provide more to consumers, the New York Times announced last week that it will offer commercial printing services to its customers. As print classified ads and subscription bases continue to shrink, newspapers are forced to find new revenue streams. Producing pamphlets and brochures to advertisers is a natural way to use the Times' economies of scale.

Welcome to the next step in digital printing.

The Times intends to leverage its buying power and market position to offer digital production at an attractive price. In addition to New York Magazine inserts and New York Times inserts (everything from DVDs to scent strips), the Times is producing freestanding pamphlets, brochures and postcards. The Times will even be producing newsletters/newspapers to try and improve operating efficiencies on their presses.

The new business approach might just be working. The Times reported that pre-print distribution business is up 20 percent in the past year.

"We are pleased to offer our advertisers and potential advertisers a host of new printing and production services," said Jyll Holzman, senior vice president of advertising, The New York Times.

If you're thinking about offering commercial printer services to your customers, consider JJ Bender for all your equipment needs.