One touch web review - international media - flexogravure

Ricoh’s Record success
at drupa 2012
More print service providers
turned to Ricoh’s innovative
technologies at drupa to
help them immagine change
and discover new ways to
transform their business
26
F&C
Magazine
World market print media, publishing & converting
Thousands of print service providers
from all across the world visited
Ricoh to learn more about its rich
combination of hardware and software solutions,
services and environmental values
and how it is working with printing businesses
to manage the trends that are changing
the way ‘print’ will be purchased and used
in the future. Ricoh’s Transformation Hub
featured leading industry thinkers and Ricoh
partners, including Heidelberg talking about
its strategic partnership with Ricoh.
Some of the demonstrations that proved
popular with visitors were the InfoPrint 5000
VP, shown in Europe for the first time, the
new large format inkjet Ricoh Pro L4000
printer with latex ink and the Ricoh Pro C901
Graphic Arts Edition digital colour press.
Print and Beyond
Trends and applications showcased in
Ricoh’s Innovation Zone included technologies
with future potential such as Clickable
Paper and 3D printing, which will enable
operations to take their service proposition
beyond traditional print. Print service providers
were also attracted to the creative
solutions in the Packaging Zone to see the
short run, on demand, personalised packaging
examples such as retail boxes. On
demand applications also created a buzz,
with the InfoPrint 5000 GP (General Production)
colour printing solution customising a
book by Re.Be.L, a Turin-based variable
data digital printing specialist. The process
would allow print service providers to print
books on demand, and delivered to customers
within five hours of ordering. Rebecca
Noviello, Ceo of Re.Be.L, says: “Publishers
are benefitting from new-found freedoms to
choose the books to publish without being
influenced by the mass market, and eliminating
the stifling cost of warehouse and
distribution”. Ricoh also demonstrated how
cross-media solutions can help commercial
printers establish creative credentials that
foster stronger customer relationships.
A specialist application that generated interest
among commercial printers was the
preview of Ricoh’s ‘black box’ interface
device. Ricoh took the opportunity to get
customer feedback on the potential for link-
ing third-party systems to its digital presses.
The RPIP (Ricoh Parallel Interface Protocol)
was used on four different concept configurations
on the booth: a Pro C651 EX printer
was connected to a Nagel Uv coating and
die-cutting system for a packaging solution;
a Pro C751 was fitted with a Plockmatic
envelope inserter; a Pro C901 press had
a Nagel vacuum feeder for handling tricky
stocks; and a monochrome Pro 1357 EX
printer was fitted with a Müller unwinder and
reel sheeter.
Supporting Ricoh’s zones with advice and
guidance was the comprehensive Ricoh
Business Driver Programme. Reviewed and
updated following continual client consultation,
the programme helps operations to
accelerate their business performance. A
team of experts walked visitors through its
many business-enhancing capabilities including
new exclusive reports from PIRA
about strategic options for Print Service
Providers.
Ricoh’s approach to long-term partnerships,
services and business values where cited as
just some of the reasons for printing companies
placing new orders. Julian Barnwell
of Barnwell Print, who ordered a Ricoh Pro
C901 said, “If you look at the ethos of Ricoh
and its green credentials, it’s right on track
with our own vision. Our company culture
dovetails in perfectly with Ricoh’s philosophies”.
On stand deals underlining Ricoh’s success
included, German insurance specialist LVM