Creel Printing: Printing’s Future Is Now

“We lead the printing industry as far as the technology services that we offer,” Evans remarks. “We’re constantly developing and embracing these processes as they elvolve. A lot of these technologies have only been around for two or three years now. So, we’re continually learning, developing new solutions for our customers, listening to client needs, and trying to incorporate them both into the print and mobile aspects of their businesses.”

Cross-Channel Service Provider

The key to maintaining relevance, according to Allan Creel, is leveraging multi-channel technologies and avoiding being pigeonholed as a dyed-in-the-wool printer. That willingness to be among the early adopters of these emerging tools has enabled his company to establish points of differentiation among the pool of providers.

“At the end of the day, yes, we still put ink on paper,” Creel notes. “But, when you can talk to a client about developments that really spark their interest and creativity—rather than just tired discussions about printing and paper—it changes the selling process completely. They’re actually happy we’re there, and we can capitalize on these relationships.”

As for new equipment, a six-color Komori sheetfed press was due to touch down in the first quarter of this year, and an HP Indigo 7600 digital press was installed in the last quarter of 2012. Other ancillary gear has been added, such as in-line trimming and gluing capabilities—as well as perforating units—on the heatset web presses. On the bindery side, Creel added automated strappers and bundle loaders.

The company has invested a tremendous amount of money on technology systems, including software, training and in developing proprietary systems. The new MIS software is another example of striving towards greater workflow automation in getting the right information out to the plant floor in a concise and accurate manner.