Tidewater Direct Doubles Down on Inkjet Printing Strategy with Second Inkjet Web Press
Tidewater Direct, a trade direct mail and commercial printing company with 3 manufacturing facilities nationally, announced that it has doubled down on its inkjet strategy with the purchase of a Screen 520NX inkjet press, which was installed in September and is currently operational. With an emphasis on uncoated stocks, the new press complements its existing 520HD which has now been in service for over 3 years. Both presses are located in Centreville, Md. and staffed 24 hours per day, and capacity is exclusively and uniquely sold to the trade.
Tidewater Direct has a history of supplying the trade with high quality preprinted shells (continuous forms printing), as well as direct mail commercial printing including buck slips, letters and terms and conditions for many years, building a brand that has a strong emphasis on partnerships. Prior to purchasing its first inkjet press, Tidewater saw an opportunity to partner with letter shops that were being asked to provide inkjet printing but did not have substantial volume to justify the investment in inkjet. This model which Tidewater calls an “inkjet revolution”, sought to supply the same wholesale customers that purchase forms and direct mail inserts inkjet printed product, to include rolls of forms, folded personalized letters, self-mailers, and post cards.
With the 2nd inkjet press, Tidewater not only increases its capacity which improves flexibility, but the Screen NX adds a new economy and capability for uncoated direct mail letters. Geoffrey Eisenberg, President of Tidewater Direct remarks, “It’s not uncommon for our trade partners to come to us for overflow 4 color inkjet, or even simplex or duplex imaging for the continuous forms we’ve already provided to them. Every direct mail manufacturer has ebbs and flows; Tidewater uniquely understands that and is very proud to act as a capacitor to help its customers grow.” Eisenberg elaborated, “I’m extremely proud of our team, particularly evidenced by trust our clients place in us as it relates to confidentiality and to get the tough jobs done.”
Chuck Mihalitsch, Director of Inkjet Services at Tidewater, is excited to oversee the growth at Tidewater. “I take great pride in being available to our customers and using our capacity in the most efficient way possible. By nature, my department handles a lot of rush requests and we happily take them all on.” Jim Brandt, general manager of Tidewater’s Centreville facility added, “Our goal is to act as an extension of our customers production floor, and to make outsourcing as easily and reliable as possible.”
“Tidewater has been a dedicated direct mail component part supplier for many years. This role we play is a proven critical support system for the direct mail industry. Our business model inspires direct mail contractors to buy and resell digital inkjet printing, and for that matter continuous forms printing and generic insert printing, without owning the equipment,” encouraged Ken Boone, CEO of Tidewater Direct. “Many of our clients have enough potential work to support a fraction of a machine in today’s marketplace. Offering high-quality digital inkjet printing as a service is a natural progression to our business as an industry supplier,” he added.
The preceding press release was provided by a company unaffiliated with Printing Impressions. The views expressed within do not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of the staff of Printing Impressions.
