Small- and Medium-format Sheetfed Presses -- Automated Workhors
"It's allowed us to take some work off the 700, so it's given us more sales opportunities. And when we run into time crunches, we can produce the covers on the 300 and the text on the 700, then marry them in the bindery."
Buoyed by a pressroom integrated with the PECOM system, the acquisition of the 300 enabled the printer to complete the electronic loop. Fidelity reportedly was one of the first printers in the Tampa Bay area to take on direct-to-plate.
"In looking at the short-run color market—even in the 40˝ size—run lengths are changing," Hasson says. "Part of that is because of the electronic prepress capabilities. In years gone by, customers would worry about their cost per thousand costs, so they'd order generic brochures to make sure they were covered. Today, run lengths are shorter and, because prep costs aren't as much, they can change information whenever they want.
"We already had the half-size, but we weren't automated," he continues. "It didn't give us the speed that we wanted to bring to the marketplace so we weren't very competitive. We had really quick digital capabilities, but really slow printing capabilities."
For printers considering going into half-size work for the first time, Hasson recommends evaluating your marketplace and how your customer's data is handled. "There are opportunities out there that may surprise you because of the speed of the press and the quick makeready," Hasson says.
"In reality, half-size presses have become fully loaded. Printers used to buy a 40˝ press for all the bells and whistles, but now, with the half-size press, you also get all the bells and whistles."
