How AlphaGraphics Arvada Leverages the EFI H652 for Double-digit Growth in Wide-format Work

AlphaGraphics’s Arvada, CO franchise had offered wide-format services for several years using roll-to-roll printing technologies. In 2011, the company added an EFI H650 UV hybrid flatbed/roll-to-roll printer to increase the range of applications it could produce. The printer was such a success that, last October, AlphaGraphics Arvada sought an upgrade to a newer, more efficient and more reliable printer. White ink capability was a key factor in the decision-making process.

Owner Edward Rothschild also considered some of the ways EFI has been a reliable supplier to the company, and not just with inkjet technology. The franchise also uses EFI OPS (Online Print Solutions) web-to-print and eCommerce software, and has migrated most of its eCommerce work to OPS from another software platform. AlphaGraphics Arvada also has EFI Fiery digital front ends (DFEs) driving several digital color presses, including two Xerox 700s, a Xerox 800, a Canon 6000 and a Ricoh 901C. “We are trying to standardize on Fiery as much as possible,” Rothschild explained, “so we have a consistent workflow for our staff.”

Solution:
Knowing consistency generates growth, Rothschild looked to expand what his franchise offered with a wide-format device that complements previous successes.

“We had been very happy with the previous printer,” he said, “so it made the most sense to stay with EFI and acquire the newer EFI H652 hybrid. It fits the bill for a productive, flatbed printer, and with its white ink capability, we are also able to use the roll-to-roll feature for things like window clings.”

AlphaGraphics Arvada’s 65-inch-wide EFI H652 UV hybrid printer delivers near-photographic imaging in medium-volume applications where quality and productivity are critical to customer demand. Despite premium features such as standard white ink and grayscale imaging, printing firms can break even on their EFI H652 printer investment by running it a few hours per day.

With its vacuum-belt media transport system, the printer handles a wide range of flexible and rigid media, including foam board, PVC, Styrene, plywood, MDO, aluminum, aluminum plastic composite, cardboard, acrylic and glass. Plus, the EFI H652 printer’s grayscale print heads boost image quality, producing saturated colors and smooth color gradations by utilizing eight ink-drop sizes, which range from 42 down to six picoliters for fine-detail work.

Like the company’s digital production presses, AlphaGraphics Arvada’s printer runs off of an EFI Fiery DFE, adding even more consistency to the company’s overall workflow.

Results:
Rothschild reports that about 90 percent of the work that runs through the EFI H652 printer is flat stock, with the other 10 percent primarily being roll-fed products such as window clings that require white ink. The ability to print on a wide range of substrates and offer quick turnaround times on the printer fits well with the company’s efforts to be flexible and meet customer needs while offering superior service.

“Our first EFI flatbed enabled us to acquire a very large beverage customer for whom we do regional printing,” Rothschild said. “We may do 100 to
200 banners for a football game where they are running a promotion, or point-of-sale materials for convenience stores. They could acquire these
materials less expensively from a national provider but would not have the flexibility we are able to offer in terms of versioned materials and a fast turnaround time for these regional promotional products.”

In addition to banners, Rothschild produces end caps, shelf talkers and even machine wraps for beverage vending machines, as well as other
point-of-sale materials.

“We also do work for a grocery store in the area that has its own in-plant print operation, assisting with the store’s overflow work,” Rothschild added. “The H652 has been a big help there. Another customer in our commercial printing area for whom we produce meeting support materials also transferred all of its large-format work to us after seeing the breadth of what we could do.”

In addition, the EFI H652 printer is a key contributor to Rothschild’s PosterDog.com business. “We have been able to experiment with some interesting and innovative products using the H652, including photo printing on metal, a fairly unique offering that not many others are doing,” Rothschild said.

“Large format is one of our most important growth markets,” he added. “We made a diligent effort to invest in marketing, people and technology to continue to grow that business, and the EFI H652 is a key contributor to our success.”