Hybrid printing has been around for a while. Many print service providers bought units sold by Kodak, Videojet, Scitex, or others and have used them effectively for years. We see equipment like the Kodak 6240 models still mounted on presses when we visit shop floors across the country. Those units served a purpose back in the day, but now they are showing their age.
As shop equipment gets older, finding parts and technicians to repair them becomes more difficult. Sometimes, manufacturers decide to cease supporting older platforms.
Analysts believe we are on the verge of an exciting period in the printing business as markets begin a post-COVID recovery. This makes it a perfect time to ask questions about your legacy equipment:
- Is it ready for the more complex personalized applications your customers are likely to request?
- Will the equipment hold up—can you get parts and service when you need them?
- Is your current hybrid print workflow still the best way to run your jobs?
- What is the true cost to continue relying on twenty-year-old technology?
Conversations we’ve had with print service providers revealed that many are tired of the expensive service contracts, click charges, monthly minimums, and low dpi print that often came with the older print technologies. It is getting more expensive to run these devices and they can’t always count on them to be ready to use when they need them. They question their abilities to continue to meet tight customer deadlines.
Leaders in the print business have already taken steps to upgrade. They have replaced the units that were the best solutions decades ago. Modern systems allow them to automate more of their production workflow while still using as much of their existing infrastructure as possible. These forward-looking organizations recognize such investments allow them to bid competitively for higher-margin projects, increase customer wallet-share, and take advantage of cross-selling opportunities.
Many of the companies replace their aging low resolution equipment with the much higher resolution 1200 dpi Freedom Series FS-1200 from Document Data Solutions.
The FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc. SAMBA® printheads used in the FS-1200 are made of silicon, like computer chips. Their unique monolithic design reduces the number of moving parts, resulting in increased reliability. FS-1200 design features offer big improvements over the capabilities of older equipment like the Kodak 6240.
| 6240 | FS-1200 | |
| Print Width | Fixed at 4.27” | Choose width from 1.7” to 27” |
| Resolution | 240 x 240 DPI | Up to 1200 DPI |
| Ink Drop Size | Fixed | Selectable to best match your production requirement |
| Image Speed | 300 FPM to 1000 FPM, depending on model | Up to 1300 FPM |
| Click Charges | NO | NO |
| Repetitive Refurbishing Required | YES | NO |
| IJPDS Workflow | YES | YES, There are no changes required from your existing workflow! |
To motivate companies that are mulling over their end-of-life options, DDS has developed an incentive trade-in program to move up to our FS-1200 hybrid inkjet technology. From now until July 31, 2021, DDS will extend a trade-in credit, up to $25,000, for customers that would like to trade-in their end-of-life digital printing solution for the NEW standard in hybrid inkjet printing – the iDataPrint™ FS-1200! Click the link below to discuss your trade-in.
Plenty of demand already exists for hybrid printing applications. Each year, agencies and corporations spend hundreds of millions of dollars to purchase print for direct mail campaigns and related projects. Looking forward, the printing companies with efficient operations will win these bids because they can quote low prices, high quality, and fast turnaround. Versatile and cost-effective hybrid printing solutions make that possible.
If your printing company relies on inkjet or toner solutions you bought in the 90s, you may find it difficult to compete for new hybrid print jobs. Customers will invest in print only if they can get the results they want, at a price they can justify.