After a three-year-long reduction in its use of solvent ink devices, Inkjet International has boosted efficiency and productivity using HP Scitex Latex and UV large-format printers.
The Dallas-based company invested in new printing systems during a challenging period for the graphics industry, but is now primed to grow faster than competitors as the economy recovers. With three HP Scitex XP5300 UV ink printers, an HP Scitex FB6100 flatbed UV ink printer and an HP Scitex LX600 latex ink printer, Inkjet International is one of the few area firms that has aggressively adopted advanced, non-solvent printing platforms.
"Inkjet International has always exercised thoughtful planning in the technology and services it offers, and even with the difficult economy of the past three years, we made it a priority to invest a portion of our profits into new technologies that allow us to better serve our customers," said Jittu Sarna, owner and CEO, Inkjet International. "UV and latex are the big trend going forward in the signage and graphics space. As the economy picks up, the growth in new work is going to come in these highly productive, greener and more efficient ink platforms."
Inkjet International experienced the advantages of UV ink printing firsthand when it bought its first UV system, the HP Scitex FB6100 Printer. The 10.5-foot-wide flatbed printer helped the company expand in point-of-sale/point-of-purchase display work.
Soon afterward, the company started benefiting from the excellent reliability and high speeds available with HP Scitex roll-to-roll UV ink printers. Inkjet International replaced a fleet of 14 solvent ink printers with three HP Scitex XP5300 Printers, offering print speeds up to 3,230 sqft/hr. to allow the company to complete jobs in as little as 15 minutes.
"Turnaround time is the key in terms of building a successful business, so when it became time for us to invest in the business, HP Scitex printers made perfect sense," said Sarna. "We can produce more than 120 14x48-foot billboards in a 24-hour time frame with the HP Scitex XP5300 Printers. It would typically require a dozen or more solvent-ink printers to equal that level of throughput."
Inkjet International's HP Scitex LX600 Printer also has helped the company expand its décor services for sporting venue suites. Prior to installing the HP Scitex LX600 Printer, the company handled this type of high-end work by printing on expensive photographic papers with an aqueous ink printer. The HP Scitex printer delivers higher profits by offering comparable quality, up to 1,200 dots per inch, with the flexibility to print on more economical media.
The firm's HP Scitex LX600 print operation has led to new opportunities, including office décor work that Inkjet International recently completed at wireless communications services provider MetroPCS's Dallas headquarters.
Inkjet International's work with sporting venue suites extends a long-running, close relationship with the Dallas Stars professional hockey team and the Dallas Mavericks professional basketball team. The company prints signage work for both, as well as for many of the sponsors in the teams' home arena.
Beyond helping clients market themselves, Inkjet International takes a progressive stance in marketing itself in its sports team relationships. Fans at the arena and watching on television often see the company's own advertisements and logo in the arena or on the teams' press conference backdrop.
"Inkjet International has a strong marketing focus, a progressive, well-planned investment strategy and a deep commitment to its customers, so it is definitely the type of company that knows the value of delivering high-quality graphics, on time and on budget," said Jan Riecher, vice president and general manager, Graphics Solutions Business – Americas, HP.
