Production Inkjet Is Not Ready To Save Your Life-Mary Schilling

By Mary Schilling

Anytime you talk to a customer about switching to inkjet, have a face-to-face conversation with them with the actual product requirements, not just cost. All needs of the project must be discussed, not just that it will be more economical (for the customer or printer) to go this way.

I was very disappointed to hear that, for more than a year, not once did any of her printer’s staff talk to her about the “differences” with inkjet, and explain how the paper, weight, ink type, colorant, chemistry, TAC and machine all will be different than conventional printing. Never once did the printer discuss her image and color quality requirements and “diagnose” her needs. For her, it was like seeing many different Dr.’s who didn’t understand her ailment.

After an inkjet 101 discussion, she now understands the differences and, for her requirements, inkjet is not the way to go.

Production inkjet is a wonderful technology for many types of printing, but it is not right for everyone. The print requirements must direct the process. Or, in medical terms, you cannot “treat” something properly if you don’t have an accurate diagnosis.

Have you trained your print sales staff to diagnose the right print treatment for your customers? It could mean the difference between life or death...

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Mary Schilling Author's page Mary Schilling works with all the elements of the digital process-from conventional and inkjet technologies to fluids and substrates-and provides technical support to print providers on optimizing print quality while lowering total print cost. Understanding the dynamics of the digital marketplace, and the incredible growth and advancements in inkjet technology, Mary provides customers with print quality, color gamut, fluid consumption, machine and print quality analysis, utilizing G7 methodology. She also works with inkjet fluid and machine developers to align paper development of new, innovative inkjet substrates. As the owner of Schilling Inkjet Consulting, she consults with fluid and inkjet machinery suppliers and end users on how to improve color and print quality for paper, plastics, metal, fabric and glass with UV, solvent and aqueous inkjet fluids. Mary received Innovator of the Year awards from the Flexographic Technical Association and from Xplor International for her efforts in closing the gap between document printing and digital packaging. She is G7 certified and a member of the IDEAlliance Print Properties Committee.

Production Inkjet Is Not Ready to Save Your Life