When Auckland commercial printer Digital Solutions looked at upgrading and expanding its digital solutions, Fuji Xerox and Printing Supplies and Machinery provided an answer for its digital print finishing
Copy Solutions started out in 1991 and now employs a staff of 22. It mainly engages in commercial digital printing, running a few Xerox machines including the 8000, 4100, 5065, 6135, 1100, and the Nuvera 144EA.Like other commercial digital printers, Copy Solutions realised that it would save money and time if it could complete its finishing inhouse. Alana Hawes, branch manager at Copy Solutions, says the company’s commitment to its customers had a bearing on the decision to look for a finishing solution. She says, “We like to offer our clients the latest in technology, quality and service.” Wanting to expand and upgrade, Copy Solutions contacted Fuji Xerox.
Copy Solutions needed a machine that could fit easily into its premises, in size and capability. With the assistance of Printing Supplies, Fuji Xerox sold Copy Solutions the Watkiss Power Square, or PSQ.
Rhys Daube, managing director Printing Supplies and Machinery the master agents for Watkiss in New Zealand, felt strongly that the Power Square was the right answer to Copy Solutions finishing question. He says, “The PSQ makes books from between eight and 200 pages, on stock ranging from 70 - 250gsm dependant on paper type and quality, producing trademarked square back books. It has a heavy-duty side-loading stitch head. It’s ergonomically designed to improve ease of operation and it’s fully automated. It’s instant on; there’s no warm up time.”
Daube says the Power Square came quickly to mind because it is compatible with the Copy Solutions machinery. He says, “Xerox has tested the PSQ and certified it. This is significant as not all finishing equipment receives the stamp approval from Xerox. They are quite stringent with their requirements.”
Hawes says the installation went smoothly and Copy Solutions appreciated the high level of commitment from Fuji Xerox and Printing Supplies. She says, “Once creating the space installation was fast and easy. Fuji Xerox and Printing Supplies were great with assisting and advising us as to how we could combine these machines and use them both to their full potential.”
Impressed with the Power Square’s small footprint, she says, “The Power Square is a very industrial machine that is very forgiving and user friendly. We are the first and only company at this stage to be able to offer our clients a saddle stitch with a square edge folding up to 50 leaves (200sides).”
Daube believes quality and versatility remain big factors in choosing the right finishing equipment. He says, “With this machine, the single, heavy duty stitch head means you can insert from one to six stitches. It ensures consistent alignment and quality. When you enter the job parameters (paper size, book thickness and number of stitches) into the touch-screen, it automatically sets the stitch position, the wire draw length (the stitch leg length), the amount of spine form required and the trim dimension. You can save the settings for repeat jobs. The square back books can carry print on the spine, and you switch off the square back if you don’t want it.”
The automation the Power Square provides is significant to Copy Solutions. Hawes says, “Automation is extremely important; the less labour intensive a job is the better it is for everyone. When printing through the Nuvera, the Power Square is fully automated.”
Just as important to Copy Solutions are the relationships the company has built with clients and suppliers. Hawes says, “We’ve always worked very closely with Fuji Xerox, who have always gone out of their way to be helpful. We’re very pleased that now we’ve also gained a great relationship with Printing Supplies. The support from Printing Supplies and Fuji Xerox is excellent. Both companies have friendly teams who listen to us and care enough about our business to be really helpful.”
