Reprographics 101

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  • Fantastic document for learning about BIM

    At an event organized by CoreNet Global in Atlanta, GA this past November (Nov 6th to 8th), an incredibly detailed, yet easy to comprehend, presentation titled, “Leveraging Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the Workplace”, was given, and, yesterday, I came across a copy of that presentation, which I’d like to share with visitors of Reprographics 101.

    The presentation file is approximately 60 pages long, so not intended for those with a short attention span! But, please note that this presentation is an excellent way to learn about BIM; what is it, how do A/E/C industry participants work with it, etc. If I was still in the reprographics business, reading this file would be a homework assignment for our sales team members.

    “Leveraging Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the Workplace”

    Moderator:
    William Jegher, Ernst & Young Real Estate Services

    Speakers:
    Brian Kimsey, GSA
    James Katz, Johnson Controls, Inc.
    Dr. Jordan Brandt, Horizontal Systems
    KP Reddy, ARC BIM Services
    Robin Ellerthorpe, HOK

    Click on this link to access the presentation document:

    http://tinyurl.com/7em6sfo


  • Going forward, what do you feel are the three greatest risks-threats to your company? Blog author's comments on recent survey results.

    In the “Reprographer Survey” Reprographics 101 recently conducted, we asked Reprographers this question:

    “Going forward, what do you feel are the three greatest risks / threats to your company?”

    44 Reprographers participated in the survey. Of those, 8 did not provide a response to the question. As to those 8, perhaps they do not feel there are any risks / threats to their company, ….. or maybe they were just too lazy to submit responses.

    Anyway, as to the responses we received, I decided to try and “categorize” the responses, as best I could. And, I did that so that I could “comment on” the responses, for whatever that’s worth. You may not agree with my categorizations, nor with my comments about the responses, and, if you don’t agree, you can add your “two-cents-worth” by using the “comment” feature on our blog.

    About the “bulleted-lists” that appear below; I tried my best to eliminate duplicate thoughts, but, in some cases, there will still be similar or duplicative responses.

    Okay, here we go…..

    RISKS / THREATS ATTRIBUTABLE TO GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS:

    · Governmental stalemates

    · Political situations

    · Building departments overregulation

    Blog author’s comments: Speaking frankly, I don’t agree that there is “overregulation” of building departments. We should be thankful that we have “building codes” and “building regulations” in the U.S. All you have to do is look at countries, who lack building regulations and codes, where entire cities are virtually decimated by earthquakes or hurricanes, to be thankful that we have regulations and codes in the U.S. Also, there have not been any additional regulations or codes, to speak of, during the Great Recession, that were not already in place when the U.S. A/E/C Industry experienced an enormous, extended boom. Regulations and codes did not stop that boom. In my own opinion, there has not been enough stimulus on the part of our elected representatives; much of the stimulus, to-date, has been directed at making banks and financial institutions healthy, rather than directly stimulating the A/E/C Industry. There will not be a strong recovery until the A/E/C Industry shows evidence of a rebound (non-res and res, included.)

    RISKS / THREATS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE ECONOMY:

    · Economic crisis

    · Long term economic doldrums

    · Recession / Depression

    · Deeper recession

    · Economic instability

    · Economy

    · Bad market

    · USA enters a double dip recession

    · Economic downturn

    · Lingering recession with more customers scared of spending/investing

    · Further economic decline

    · Government projects drying up before commercial comes back

    · Construction (lack of)

    · No new jobs being created in the construction field

    Blog author’s comments: Certainly, the economy affects reprographers’ businesses, as well as all other businesses. But, much of the economy – GDP growth in a consumer-driven economy – has to do with “positive outlook” vs. “negative outlook.” Perhaps if there was not so damn much fighting in government, consumers and businesses would have a more positive outlook, and, with that positive outlook, feel more confident about investing and spending. Lack of confidence is always a nightmare for recovery and growth.

    RISKS / THREATS ATTRIBUTABLE TO INCOME TAXES AND HEALTHCARE COSTS:

    · Higher taxes

    · Increased Taxes

    · Health Care Benefits

    Blog author’s comments: Our current income tax code is a complete abortion. But, as my father-in-law always said, “if we’re paying more income tax, that means were making more money.” Of course, his statement would not be true if our increased taxes resulted from a hike in income tax rates, rather than from an increase in profits. On the other hand, I’d be willing to pay a higher rate of income tax if the income tax system was a level playing field, which it is not, provided that the increased income tax was used to stimulate the economy and job growth. As to health care benefits (the costs thereof), that’s been out of control for many years, even during the great boom our country experienced.

    RISKS / THREATS ATTRIBUTABLE TO RISK-AVERSE LENDING INSTITUTIONS:

    · Lack of credit for developers; no new projects

    · Banks not loaning money

    Blog author’s comments: So, our government instituted policies to get banks and financial institutions healthy. But, what have our banks and lending institutions (the latter, collectively speaking) done with that money, other than, sit on it and earn a safe spread between cost-of-money (interest expense) and investment income (interest income), by investing in government sponsored investments, rather than taking risks in lending to businesses. But while this sentiment applies to many banks and lending institutions, it does not apply to all. For example, Wells Fargo (WFC) just reported its Q4 2011 results, and those results were an excellent improvement; an improvement primarily attributable to WFC’s commercial-loan-growth. Copied from an article, that appeared today on the Internet, about WFC’s results:

    “Wells Fargo has a better business model for the environment we’re in now because commercial lending is their biggest sector,” said Jeffrey Sica, president of SICA Wealth Management in Morristown, New Jersey, which is generally negative on the banking sector.

    “They’re not overly involved in the trading activities that the other banks are involved in.”

    The San Francisco-based bank said it earned 73 cents per share. The average estimate from analysts was 72 cents per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

    Reflecting a trend demonstrated on Friday by results at JPMorgan Chase & Co, Wells Fargo’s total loans grew about $9.5 billion from the end of September to $769.6 billion at the end of December.

    The bank said planned run-off of discontinued loans was more than offset by growth in a broad range of loan types, especially commercial loans. “Core” loans increased by about 2 percent from the previous quarter, although analysts noted the growth included U.S. commercial real estate loans purchased from struggling European banks.

    “In addition to the organic growth, we saw an opportunity from the acquisition standpoint,” said Chief Financial Officer Tim Sloan in an interview. “Not everybody in the industry has the capacity (to do that).”

    One area where Sloan said the bank wasn’t seeing much growth was utilization of existing credit lines, typically an event that occurs as the economy rebounds. The economy is “definitely improving” but not “as fast as everyone would like,” he said.

    RISKS / THREATS ATTRIBUTABLE TO CONSOLIDATION OF, OR BUSINESS FAILURES IN, THE AEC COMMUNITY:

    · Mergers among A/E firms

    · Client Closings

    Blog author’s comments: The A/E/C Industry recession has now lasted for at least 4 years, and, during that time-frame, some A/E firms have gotten into financial trouble, forcing some A/E firms to seek consolidation with other firms. If your biggest A/E customer is acquired by another A/E firm who is a customer of one of your competitors, that’s the fastest way to lose a large account, for sure, and this certainly has to be a concern of Reprographers.

    RISKS / THREATS RELATED TO EMPLOYEES:

    · Employee retention

    · Not being able to find qualified workers

    · Current workers not performing

    · Cost of more skilled employees with sales experience

    · Keeping the people we need

    Blog author’s comments: Hasn’t our industry – haven’t our reprographics companies – always been faced with these same concerns?

    RISKS / THREATS ATTRIBUTABLE COMPETITION IN THE REPROGRAPHICS INDUSTRY:

    · Increased competition

    · Very hard competition

    · Desperate people in Industry

    · Idiotic competitors

    · Companies going cheap immediately just to get the business

    · Competitors

    · Competition

    · Price erosion

    · Lower prices

    · Pricing pressure in large format color

    Blog author’s comments: Hasn’t our industry – haven’t our reprographics companies – always been faced with these same concerns? I can’t help recall thoughts I’ve had in the past about “price-competition”, market by market, where, within each market, price-competition is always stiff, even though “price-levels” (at which competitors compete) can be very, very different. Take for example “a market area” where the largest reprographers bang it out, 2 cents per sq ft being the difference, but where that difference is between $.10 and $.12 – versus “a different market area” where that 2 cents per sq ft difference is the difference between $.04 and $.06. This is definitely the type of discussion – food for thought – that Reprographers should have at industry networking events, but, with the demise of the IRgA and regional associations, these types of discussions may end up being non-existent, to the detriment of all in the reprographics industry. I’ve never been in favor of price-fixing, IT IS ILLEGAL. But, industry-pricing-education (both intra-market and market-to-market) and the common-sense application of that education ARE NOT ILLEGAL.

    RISKS / THREATS ATTRIBUTABLE TO FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE AND/OR MANAGEMENT DECISIONS

    · Lower margins

    · Erosion of profit margin

    · Reduced profit margins on existing printing

    · Cash flow (declining cash flow?)

    · Lack of operating capital

    · Investment in right areas for growth

    · Continued industry fragmentation

    · Making the wrong decisions

    · Not choosing the right path for diversification

    Blog author’s comments: Not much to say here, except for the comments two people made about “making the wrong decisions” and “not choosing the right path for diversification.” Most people in the reprographics industry do believe that the volume of A/E/C plan-printing (on paper) is not going to rebound in direct proportion to the rebound in design/development/construction activity the A/E/C Industry eventually experiences. Prints-on-paper, per-project, have declined the past several years. That decline has been fairly substantial (according to our recent survey results.) However, no one really knows whether that will continue to be the case or whether, just to the opposite of what many now think will be the case, prior “print habits” will resume, when the A/E/C Industry experiences its coming robust recovery. We just don’t “know”, yet. But, to be on the safe side, it is probably necessary that reprographers, if they have not yet done this already, continue to think about “diversification”. Choosing the “right path” for diversification requires (I should say, demands) lots of research – and lots of back and forth discussion, within and outside of the reprographer community. If you have the opportunity to network, do it! If you don’t have an advisory board (consisting of people from inside and outside of the reprographics industry), then put one together!

    RISKS / THREATS ATTRIBUTABLE TO CHANGES IN TECHNOLOGY, DOCUMENT WORKFLOWS, DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT, DOCUMENT PRINTING, AND DOCUMENT DISTRIBUTION, INCLUDING THREATS FROM PLAYERS OUTSIDE OF THE WIDE-FORMAT REPROGRAPHICS INDUSTRY:

    · Technology available to customers has reduced our involvement in their workflow, e.g. FTP sites

    · Technological obsolescence

    · Electronic take-off

    · Reduced need of clients to print documents

    · Electronic documents

    · Online software companies

    · Reality of a more paperless environment

    · Digital document distribution

    · Reduction of need for hard documents

    · Elimination of print in AEC

    · Reduction in printed material

    · Outside industries breaking into our niche and taking business

    · Further digitalization of workflow

    · Technology eroding core business

    · The overhead that we must carry to provide the level of service our customers still require (fast turnaround, etc) is too high based on the level of sales in this market. Even when construction spending increases this will be a challenge because, on a mass scale, the print and distribute workflow is gone forever

    · Decentralized printing

    · Digital Technology

    · Large software firms; Microsoft, Autodesk,etc.

    · Technology

    · Technology change

    · The Internet

    · Losing control over document flow

    · More paper going to digital

    · More competitors moving into our space

    · The green movement has made those who make their money by selling paper planetary villains.

    · New internet technology that could further (negatively) impact sales revenues

    · The ability to charge digital fees for services requested by customers (posting to planrooms, maintaining planholders lists, etc) are being challenged by FREE services from the likes of Bluebook and other free services. These companies get their revenue from other sources e.g. advertisers.

    · With the decentralization of printing leading to small inexpensive MFP printers, will the small sized Reprographic companies fall victim to ever larger national companies with larger purchasing power? The MFP devices my company sells are now being sold by large copier companies who have more boots on the ground. They can advertise on TV and they can negotiate prices from the manufacturer that I have no chance of ever getting. In some cases we compete with the manufacturers directly. In the case of HP, our retention rate for OEM inks is about 10 %

    · Internet competitors

    · Small-format vendors entering the wide-format market

    · Electronic profits (replacing profits on printed documents?)

    Blog author’s comments: Reprographers, most of the risks / threats in the above section are way beyond your control. If you do not take steps to further diversify your business …. away from A/E/C reprographics (including document management related to A/E/C documents …. you may be faced with a continuous need to down-size (right-size) your A/E/C capabilities – your equipment plan, employee population and facility size. Some will do just that – – – and, hopefully, will “survive.” But, to grow, you’re probably going to have to figure out how to generate revenues outside of the A/E/C industry, and it is likely that doing so will require added investments in technology, software, equipment, different people …. and a different mind-set than you had before the recession kicked-in. Our recent survey of Reprographers asked Reprographers for their opinions about “now and forward” diversification opportunities; opportunities that they are thinking about or have already begun to pursue. (If you want a copy of the survey-results file, e-mail your request to joel.salus@mac.com)

    For those of you who managed to make it all the way through to the end of this post, thanks for taking the time to read it. And, best of luck to you in thwarting the risks/threats that your company faces.

  • American Reprographics Co (ARC) seeking DIRECTOR OF BIM SERVICES (found on LinkedIN)

    Director of BIM Services

    American Reprographics Co – San Francisco Bay Area

    Job Description

    ARC is looking for a leader and with “mud on the boots” experience to join the firm’s BIM Services Group. Reporting directly to the Chief Technology Officer will work closely with our national BIM sales team and international production resources to exceed our clients expectations, maintain leading edge technology anddeliver quality service.
    Job Responsibilities:
    Sales and Marketing
    *Represent ARC BSG in the AEC Community and participate in marketing activities as required.
    *Support national sales team to be a resource for responding to prospect inquiries.
    *Present ARC BSG technical capabilities in person and via web conference.
    *Develop new service offerings to deliver to an ever changing market.
    *Project Management and Oversight
    *Develop detailed project execution plans, defining scope, schedules, estimates,
    and deliverables.
    *Ownership of project scope, specifications, budget, and deliverables required by client and BIM criteria. Ensure team alignment of schedule and budget in regard to deliverables required.
    *Manage all project execution activities including prioritization, risk assessments, directing and coordinating the personnel, , project controls (cost accounting, scheduling and change control), and project closure documentation.
    *Responsible for successfully managing commercial contract(s) on one or more projects of various sizes, as required.
    *Maintaining control of the assigned project by tracking and maintaining discipline performance budget progress, schedule commitments, and quality standards. Understanding and utilizing the project tools in place for project control.
    *Responsible for all major technical, cost, scheduling and performance decisions.
    *Work with client team to define project scope, goals and deliverables that support business goals in collaboration with stakeholders.
    *Recognize and communicate scope and design changes promptly by championing the Project Change Order process and promoting a positive Change Management culture.
    *Coordinate resource requirements with other ongoing project work and insure all parties’ expectations are aligned. *Planning and organizing the work of your team. Communicating the plan to your team, the project leadership team and the client. Aligning the expectations of all parties. Conduct weekly coordination meetings with the Team.
    *Maintain timely and accurate reporting including weekly and monthly reports utilizing a comprehensive action item list.
    *If required, reviewing engineering documents, vendor submittals, fabrication drawings and other construction submittals for compliance with engineering drawings, specifications, good engineering practice, and project objectives. *Project Manager is responsible for ensuring all documentation is reviewed and checked against vendor submittals, specifications, interdiscipline, etc. regardless of resource location.
    *Ensure that standard project work processes are followed by all team members through all phases of engineering, procurement, and construction.
    *Regularly interview project leads to maintain up-to-date progress against man hour expended analysis. Director is responsible for overall financial health of each project.
    *Assess the performance of the project team members through the course of the project, and work with resource leadership to organize a qualified and motivated project team.
    *Ensure project documentation is properly reviewed and approved by the client.
    *Promoting continuing positive relations with the client building on long term relationships that continue to add additional services.
    * Successfully complete project closeout as required by the client.
    *Develop Monthly Budgets and Provide Leadership to achieve the division
    budgetary goals. BIM Tasks:
    * Develop and Maintain BIM Production Standards. * Manage domestic and offshore BIM production teams. * Develop a workflow to allow BIM modeling applications to work flawlessly with architecture and engineering design tools in a two-way-relationship. (GBXML Preparation, Structural Engineering: STAA, RAM, ETABS & LEED Integration with GBS or IES and ECOTECT). * Work with BIM Application Champions: Lighting Design,
    LEED, Navisworks to implement an interoperability environment that leverages BIM Modeling beyond 3D and Documentation. * Extraction of BIM database information in cobie or other formats for FM / O&M purposes. * Experience with internet based file distribution and management. * Utilize Cloud Computing solutions for BIM data integration and utilization. * Assist in maintaining REVIT Templates, standards and libraries.

    Desired Skills & Experience

    Job Requirements –

    * Bachelor or Master of Science degree in Construction Management, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical or Civil Engineering from an accredited university.

    * Professional Engineer registration is preferred.PMP or equivalent certification is preferred.

    * Position requires 7 to 10 years of relevant project experience in engineering and project management for a diverse building project types and sizes.

    *Ability to lead a team to deliver on commitments.

    * Proficient computer skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, Project and Outlook.

    *Excellent listening and communication skills,both verbal and written.

    * Excellent organizational and people skills.

    * Excellent presentation skills.

    * Working knowledge of design industry workflows, production cycle and priorities.

    * Eager to support domestic and offshore staff with positive attitude and patience.

    * Ability to uphold the use of standards and escalate issues in a timely fashion.

    * A minimum of 4-6 years of experience with REVIT Architecture, MEP, Structure 2012 (MIN 6 Years)

    * Navisworks: Manage and Review. (MIN 4 Years)

    * Solibri (MIN 2 Years)

    Company Description

    Visit our website at: http://www.e-arc.com

  • Excelagraphix 4200 Memjet-enabled wide-format ink-jet printer from Xante – What are the answers to these questions?

    The other day, I noticed that Xante (www.xante.com) now has up on its site information about its new Excelagraphix 4200. This is Xante’s Memjet-enabled wide-format ink-jet printer. This printer can produce output up to 42” wide.

    According to the technical specs, this printer can print up to 12” per second. Which means, to a Reprographer who is printing 24 x 36 A/E/C plans, that, mathematically, the Excelagraphix 4200 is capable of producing 30 – 24 x 36 prints per minute! That’s blazing fast.

    However, we do not know yet if this printer is capable of doing high-volume print-production work at the blazing speed advertised.

    I submitted a brief list of questions to Xante, but, so far, I’ve not received a reply.

    These are the questions I’d like Xante to respond to:

    1) what is the price of the Excelagraphix 4200?

    2) what is the cost of service?

    3) what are the costs for consumables?

    4) will Xante be offering a print-stacking unit?

    5) can the unit print from roll-media?

    6) when will Xante begin deliveries?

    Reprographers, how about submitting these same questions to Xante on your own. Maybe that will provoke a response from Xante.

    Here’s a link to the advertisement for the Excelagraphix 4200 wide-format, Memjet-enabled ink-jet printer:

    http://www.xante.com/product-information/excelagraphix-4200/

  • “Package Prototyping: When Mockery Is Acceptable”: Should you get involved in the package prototyping business, the short-run packaging business?

    There’s a really excellent article, up this morning, on http://www.myprintresource.com – about package prototyping – and the opportunity to generate sales from companies that create packaging for their products and from companies who have short-run packaging needs.

    The other day on Reprographics 101, we did a post about a software program that enables people with flat-bed cutters to manufacture boxes and other packaging for the finished-prints they produce. The article, below, gets into detail about the opportunities available to those who decide that “packaging” is a business they should be in.

    I read Mark Vruno’s article (see below), and while I may not agree with him that the opportunity to generate sales from providing package-prototyping services is significant (wide-format ink-jet printing equipment is now so cheap that most packaging companies have, or can easily acquire, their own wide-format ink-jet printers), I do think there’s an opportunity for Reprographers in the “short-run” custom-packaging production space. Reprographers, you’ll need to have, in addition to wide-format printing equipment, a flat-bed cutting system to get involved in short-run customer-packaging production.

    The other day on this blog, we mentioned flat-bed cutting equipment from Zund (www.zund.com). In Mark’s article he mentions flat-bed cutting systems from Esko (www.esko.com).

    Below, I’ve reprinted the title and first three paragraphs of Mark’s article. Reprographers, I’d encourage you to read this article; it contains interesting food for thought.

    “Package Prototyping: When Mockery Is Acceptable”

    BY MARK VRUNO

    Every print firm looking to increase sales in 2012 has his or her fingers on the pulses of two growing revenue streams: wide-format and packaging. Which is why using wide-format digital output devices to prototype, proof, and print packaging on demand may…

    Since retailers cannot “digitize” packages on store shelves, industry watchers like to point out, the e-threat to package printers isn’t the same as converting printed pages into PDFs. Every print firm looking to increase sales in 2012 has his or her fingers on the pulses of two growing revenue streams: wide-format and packaging. Which is why using wide-format digital output devices to prototype, proof, and print packaging on demand may be the ideal specialty blend for profits this year.

    Total output product value for packaging is in the range of $290 billion worldwide, according to I.T. Strategies. Affordable print technology and market need have combined to bring the promise of double digit growth to the digital packaging market. InfoTrends projected that digital packaging will experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 15 percent between 2009 and 2014. While folding cartons and flexible packaging represent a relatively small base, revenues will show CAGRs of over 23 percent and nearly 20 percent, respectively.

    Okay, here’s a link that will take you to the complete article that Mark wrote:

    http://www.myprintresource.com/article/10453833/package-prototyping-when-mockery-is-acceptable

  • Océ to Showcase New Products And Services at FESPA Digital 2012

    The FESPA Digital show is in Barcelona, Spain next month. Barcelona is an awesome city to visit. Barcelona has some of the most amazing architecture in the world; when you go to Barcelona, check out Gaudi’s architecture, it is surreal! Another big plus is Spanish wine; Tempranillo and Crianza are two of my favorite wines.

    Océ to Showcase New Products And Services at FESPA Digital 2012

    Tuesday, January 17, 2012

    Press release from the issuing company

    Amazing elements connect on the Océ stand at FESPA Digital 2012: everything a print provider needs to grow their business. Océ is a single source to help print providers build a display and signage printing business, and to help them branch out into new areas such as industrial applications and specialty printing. Océ will showcase new products and various elements designed for producing display graphics and specialty applications on its stand F50 (Hall 3) at the FESPA Digital 2012 exhibition from February 21-24, 2012, in Barcelona, Spain. Océ is a Platinum Sponsor of FESPA Digital 2012.

    On the Océ stand, visitors can learn how to ‘connect the dots’ to new applications. The ‘dots’ on the Océ stand represent elements of the company’s various offerings including UV Flatbeds, Finishing, Roll-to-Roll, Instant Posters, Imaging Supplies, Workflow and Expertise. Visitors can experience these demonstration areas and learn how the elements interconnect to bring innovation and solutions to display graphics and specialty applications.

    UV Flatbeds

    The Océ Arizona® Series of UV flatbed printers is the world’s best selling range with more than 2800 installations worldwide. These award-winning printers help digital print providers add new services by printing photo-quality images on virtually any media, taking on work that was never before possible with lesser quality printing systems. They can also be used for exotic materials and objects for high-value, high-margin specialty applications. The combination of image quality and versatility for almost any application has made Océ Arizona printers extremely popular with digital print providers. Océ Arizona Series prints are ideal for traditional display applications such as point-of-sale displays, directional signage, backlit images and window graphics.

    Users can connect an Océ Arizona Series printer to the Océ ProCut™ system to create structural point-of-sale and exhibit displays, decals, contour fabric displays and even custom furniture.

    Finishing

    The Océ ProCut digital cutting system can dramatically reduce production time and costs by automating the finishing steps and streamlining the workflow. The system can also be used to open doors to new business such as structural displays for exhibits and point-of-sale, or packaging prototyping. Digital print providers that are currently outsourcing trimming and cutting jobs can recapture that revenue and maintain control of costs. The Océ ProCut system includes a range of digital cutting tables, a complete software package for preparing and interpreting the cut data in a seamless workflow, and pre- and post-installation application training and support. It significantly reduces labor costs compared to manual cutting because only one operator is required to run the highly productive automated cutter.

    Digital print providers can connect the Océ ProCut system with an Océ Arizona UV flatbed printer to open up new areas of business that were previously too difficult, too costly or too labor-intensive to be considered profitable.

    Roll-to-Roll

    For outdoor-durable prints, the Océ CS9000 Series of eco-solvent printers combine value with ease-of-use, and deliver exceptional quality with high UV-fade resistance. These printers are ideal for short run print jobs in light production environments where high quality output and outdoor durability are required. Due to the eco-solvent inks, these models can be used in a regular office or printshop environment without having to invest in an air purification system.

    For stunning indoor prints, Océ offers the Canon® imagePROGRAF® line of large format inkjet printers that produces the full spectrum of colors with extraordinary accuracy and perfect balance. This printer series is ideal for photos, posters and proofing applications.

    Digital print providers can connect any of these models to the Océ ProCut system for creating decals and trimming posters.

    Instant Posters

    The Océ ColorWave® 600 Poster Printer is changing the way people create – and make money. It can be used to expand existing print services and profits with instant-dry prints that are cut-to-size and ready to use. It is a highly productive and cost-effective way to produce posters with clean, green technology. For shops that already own aqueous-based roll printers, shifting the production of point-of-sale posters to the Océ ColorWave 600 Poster Printer reduces labor and media costs significantly. Operators can be freed up for other tasks, since the system can run unattended at full production speed and no manual trimming is required. Media costs are reduced because it can print on a range of economical, uncoated paper.

    For retail applications, shops can connect the Océ ColorWave 600 Poster Printer to Océ Posterizer™ software to create economical short-term, in-store signage and labels.

    Imaging Supplies

    Océ offers a wide range of media for a variety of applications. The right supplies can make a substantial difference to a digital print provider’s business as well as its clients. Océ offers supplies for all technologies and all major machine brands, including paper, toner, ink, and many others; for large format printers and small format printers. Océ also maintains color profiles for Océ printers, for all media offered. To find the right material for an Océ printer and application, visit the online media guide at mediaguide.oce.com.

    Océ Imaging Supplies helps users connect the dots from idea through production to finished product – a perfect match.

    Workflow

    ONYX® ProductionHouse™ Océ Edition RIP software dramatically simplifies everyday printing tasks. Color profiling is highly automated so users can easily build media profiles in minutes instead of hours. With the available recalibration tools, users can quickly and easily maintain consistent output over multiple media types and devices. ONYX ProductionHouse Océ Edition software can drive a wide range of printers including all Océ Display Graphics Systems printers and Canon imagePROGRAF printers.

    For print providers who want to develop their printing business in the retail industry, Océ Posterizer Enterprise software offers a new range of opportunities. Océ Posterizer Enterprise software is specifically engineered for designing and producing point-of-sale materials that include variable product, price and promotional content such as promotional posters, price tags, shelf talkers, etc. It enables automation of the production process to produce high quality point-of-sale signage, in a timely and cost-effective manner.

    The right workflow software from Océ can help users connect the dots to higher productivity and new business opportunities.

    Expertise

    Display graphics is a knowledge-intensive industry. Finding new ways to increase revenue is a main driver in this competitive market, and the challenge of producing sellable-quality prints – while maintaining profitability – is a very real concern. Digital print providers need to develop expertise to stay on top of new materials, applications and opportunities. This is where Océ can help. With every purchase of an Océ Display Graphics Systems printer or finishing system, customers gain access to a worldwide network of Océ Applications Specialists dedicated to the art and science of helping them create spectacular display graphics applications.

    From simple banners to elaborate point-of-sale displays to color-precise backlits, Océ has the expertise to help users connect the dots to achieve the very best results from an Océ system.

  • Survey Results

    JUST A REMINDER …..


    If you want to review the results of the two surveys we conducted, submit your request for the survey-results files to joel.salus@mac.com

    Anyone may request the survey-results files; you did not have to participate in the survey, nor do you have to be a member of any organization.

  • KP Reddy, founder of RCMS Group and former Vice President of BIM Services for American Reprographics Co (ARC), departs ARC to pursue new opportunity

    I just learned about this, so consider this “breaking news”. KP’s last day at ARC was this past Friday. As I understand it, Dilo and Suri were very supportive of KP’s decision to pursue other opportunities.

    The first time I met KP Reddy was right after he gave a presentation – about BIM – at the IRgA Convention held in Pittsburgh. Only several months later, KP sold RCMS Group to ARC. That transaction took place in September 2009.

    New Year brings new direction for KP. I don’t yet know what new opportunity KP has decided to pursue, but I wish him the best of luck and success with whatever it is he’s decided to do. He’s definitely one of the smartest individuals I’ve ever had the pleasure of getting to know.

    For those of you who are not aware of this, KP’s book – “BIM for Building Owners and Developers: Making a Business Case for Using BIM on Projects” – is now for sale on Amazon.com

    The following information comes from KP Reddy’s profile on LinkedIn:

    KP Reddy was most recently the Vice President of BIM Services for ARC (NYSE:ARP). ARC is the largest Global Construction Information Management Company in the World.

    Formerly KP was Chief Executive Officer of RCMS Group. A nationally recognized expert on construction technologies, including Building Information Modeling (BIM), he is a sought-after speaker and industry advisor. 



    Before founding RCMS Group, KP was Vice President of Operations and Chief Information Officer for Verso Technologies (NASDAQ). While at Verso, he was involved with nearly a dozen mergers and acquisitions of technology companies. 



    Prior to Verso, KP served as Chief Technology Officer of Cereus Technology Partners (NASDAQ), which he founded in 1997, and acted as President and CEO until its acquisition in 1999. During his tenure at both Cereus and Verso, KP was deeply involved in technology projects which included software development and data management.

    He began his career as a Project Engineer and Business Development Manager for Law Engineering and Environmental Services (now Mactec).



    KP is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelors of Science degree in Civil Engineering. He is an active Alumnus of the Georgia Institute of Technology, serves as a Mentor Member for The Indus Entrepreneur (TiE) Atlanta, is an advisory board member for Midtown Bank & Trust, AMPIRIX and serves on the board of directors for several privately held companies. KP also serves on the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) BIM Task Force and the NBIM Board of Direction.

  • Does the name of your company truly reflect the direction of your company?

    An article about Washington Reprographics, now known as PrintScape Imaging & Graphics, appeared in the July 8th, 2011 edition of Pittsburgh Business Times (which is a member of the Business Journals group).

    Although this article appeared about half a year ago, the subject matter of the article – the “name change” from “Washington Reprographics” to “PrintScape Imaging & Graphics” – is, I think, still a very relevant issue for reprographers to consider.

    Does the name of your reprographics company still include the word, “blueprinting” or the word “blueprints”? Or, did you finally change your name to eliminate blueprinting/blueprints from your company’s name? And, if you did, did you go with the word “reprographics”? And, if you did that, does the term “reprographics” fit your current business well?

    After all, “what’s in a name”? And, is the name of your business really all that important?

    Well, I do believe that names are important, especially if your business has morphed into one that offers services beyond traditional “reprographics” services for the A/E/C Industry. Many, many reprographers have changed their names in an effort to gain wider appeal and recognition within the industries they want to pursue business.

    Should one of your New Year’s resolutions be to think hard about whether your company’s current name reflects what your company offers? Perhaps you should consider changing your company’s name, or, if not that, perhaps you should consider “how to brand” the non-A/E/C services your company offers.

    Here’s the text of the article that appeared in the Pittsburgh Business Times ….

    The name pretty much said it all for Washington Reprographics, a 34-year-old business based in Washington, Pa., that reproduced drawings for architects and engineers.

    Except that hadn’t been the case for several years. Its headquarters were in Robinson Township, with other offices in Downtown Pittsburgh, Canonsburg and Morgantown, W.Va. And 70 percent of its revenue came from new sources — signs, banners and other graphics.

    John Dziak, who joined Washington Reprographics in 1988 as a salesman, acquired the company in 2004 and effectively augmented the business model.

    “Reprography was its own sort of animal,” Dziak said. “We almost solely focused on the architectural and construction market, and, for years, that was our bread and butter.”

    But it also was a volatile business model because the building sector is cyclical.

    “The revenue swung month to month and it drove me nuts,” he said.

    So Dziak expanded the business into other sectors, providing digital printing and online document management, as well as creative graphics solutions for interior design, retail and public venues, including producing colorful, wall-sized graphics for the Consol Energy Center , the Heinz History Center and the Carnegie Science Center. That evened out the money flow and increased sales, which topped $5 million last year.

    But the name was a sticking point. It no longer fit and, worse, confused new and potential clients. By late 2009, Dziak realized a change had to be made.

    “We felt it was something we needed to pursue from talking to customers about how they found us,” Dziak said. “We had people telling us, ‘Wow. I never would have found you with the name you have.’ If you ask a dozen people about reprographics, half won’t have any idea what that means.”

    It took seven months of preparation to position the company as Printscape Imaging & Graphics in March. In addition to the name and new logo, Dziak said, there was a good deal of behind the scenes scrambling.

    “We had to make the website functional and running because that’s the first place people go,” he said. “We had a punch list of different touches to reach customers, including direct marketing, direct mail and e-blasts. And we had to be sure the employees and delivery drivers had the right message.”

    Almost immediately, Printscape saw an increase in queries from potential clients and a bump-up in business.

    “We’ve received more responses,” Dziak said. “Even the regular customers said, ‘Oh, that makes sense.’”

    It also paves the way for Printscape to build in new directions, services-wise and geographically. Dziak would like to draw more national business.

    Printscape also is poised to make acquisitions. In April, it acquired Visual Impact Graphics, a Robinson-based signmaker and vehicle graphics company.

    Best of all, sales are up nearly 10 percent compared to a year ago, and profit has increased.

    “We can do just about anything we want with a name like Printscape, whether it’s different types of printing, different applications, or working outside of this area,” Dziak said.

    Ann Dugan, assistant dean of the University of Pittsburgh’s Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence, said changing a name that no longer reflects the company effectively is often part of a business’s evolution.

    “A lot of times, people don’t give a lot of attention to what their name means,” she said. “You have to evaluate your identity. Ask what your brand is telling you and what it’s saying to the public.”

    She said it’s crucial to build a marketing plan around the name change.

    “You lessen the risk that someone is going to leave you or a previous customer can’t find you,” Dugan said.

  • Give your input, share your ideas with the Board of Directors of the IRgA !!!

    In February, the Board of Directors of the IRgA will be holding a meeting and the main topic of the meeting (I’m guessing) will be the future direction of the IRgA.

    Here’s what Steve Bova (Executive Director of the IRgA) said in a recent post in the IRgA Group on LinkedIn (and thank you, Steve, for plugging my blog):

    Steve Bova • Thanks Joel. IRgA Board meets in February. The more chatter that’s in this group, the more the board will know about the needs of the industry and how the IRgA might help meet those needs. Thanks to Joel for sharing his info. Everyone should join his blog!

    To members of the Reprographer community … the IRgA Board needs your input, let your suggestions be known! Visit the IRgA Group on LinkedIn and contribute to the discussion.