Inkjet process as an attractive option in the small and medium run segment

The advantages convince even (former) Dax companies. For our customer METRO we produced the first Annual Report in innovative inkjet technology from HP.

The METRO Annual Report was printed on environmentally friendly uncoated FSC^® paper (FSC-C016368). The circulation was 1,650 copies, in two languages, each of 320 pages. The further processing was carried out with PUR adhesive binding and register punching.

What reasons were ultimately decisive for Metro to choose this technology?

For this Annual Report, we considered for the first time to no longer provide the financial section in printed form. This didn´t receive a consistently positive response and so it was decided to print a smaller amount as a separate issue. The amount, the language change and the number of pages demonstrated that the most favorable terms arose from roll digital printing. We then had selected pages from different providers printed as proofs and finally chose the offer and the quality of Elanders Germany.

Were you satisfied with the quality?

Through the printed samples made in the run-up tests of the annual reports from last year, Corporate Communications knew what kind of a result was to be expected. This year’s motif was then, however, an even greater challenge. Here Elanders Germany´s experience with colour management from offset printing became apparent and we were able to achieve an optimum result with the inkjet machine.

Even the circulation numbers of Annual Reports are diminishing. Nevertheless, companies do not want to forgo a printed edition. The solution is four-colour inkjet technology.

Inkjet printing closes the gap between classical digital printing and conventional offset printing.

Due to its high speed, this technology enables the production of objects in small to medium runs, also with high-pagination, with huge price advantages over offset printing.

The application possibilities are extremely varied. Preliminary runs, post production, small quotas of foreign languages, demand quantities – all this is now possible.

The advantages in brief:

Cost reduction when compared to offset printing up to 40%, flexibility in production, no language switching costs, no storage required, no publishing skills risk, the use of environmentally friendly papers, CO₂ emission minimisation through less waste…

Elanders Germany has worked with HP´s four-colour inkjet technology since January, 2015, and was one of the first companies that could offer this innovative printing process. Due to popular demand, the second plant is already being installed.

Pictures: METRO