Sheetfed Inkjet at Linemark Now Printing Jobs Formerly Output on EP and Offset Presses
This DC-area commercial, direct mail, and custom book printer purchased its first inkjet press just months ago, quickly migrating jobs from its toner and offset fleet to the Canon varioPRINT iX-series 3200. It now predicts production inkjet will be one of its largest technologies going forward. Find out why.
Linemark Transforms Operations with Canon Inkjet Support
Linemark, located in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, is a prominent commercial printer renowned for serving a highly diverse clientele. The facility strategically divides its operations into three distinct business categories: direct mail, general commercial printing, and print-on-demand books. As the commercial print industry rapidly evolves, maintaining a strong competitive edge requires adopting innovative technologies that blend high-speed digital production with uncompromising visual quality. To help elevate its growing print-on-demand services and optimize its direct mail offerings, the organization recognized the critical need to invest in advanced cut-sheet inkjet technology.
Bridging the Photographic Quality Gap
The journey toward finding the right digital press was a meticulous process. The leadership team had been closely tracking the evolution of inkjet technology, exploring market offerings during major industry trade shows as early as 2016.
For years, the printing market recognized the inherent reliability of inkjet presses, but a significant technological gap remained. Linemark needed a specific solution capable of delivering pristine photographic quality and deep color saturation while strictly maintaining reasonable ink costs. This requirement was crucial for their growing print-on-demand book segment, which frequently involves the self-publishing market. These specialized customers often request highly illustrated coffee table books and complex artistic projects featuring heavy ink coverage and massive solid backgrounds. Previously available inkjet options simply lacked the necessary high-end quality for these premium applications.
Furthermore, the facility needed to efficiently transition shorter-run jobs away from traditional sheetfed offset presses and older toner-based devices to help improve turnaround times and reduce costs without sacrificing quality. Additionally, because clients constantly demand unique paper stocks, the ideal machine needed to process a massive variety of coated and uncoated substrates without requiring complex pre-treatments.
A Seamless Technological Integration
After diligently monitoring the market, Linemark found the technological fit and partnered with Canon. The Maryland facility became one of the very first commercial printers to install the highly advanced Canon varioPRINT iX3200 series press, marking their initial foray into dedicated production inkjet hardware.
The integration process was incredibly collaborative. Canon was present every step of the way, providing dedicated on-site management assistance and conducting rigorous weekly update meetings to ensure a smooth technological ramp-up during the first critical months.
Beyond the mechanical installation, Canon actively assisted the print shop's sales force by producing high-quality physical samples of the company's current projects directly on the new machine. This hands-on educational approach gave the sales team confidence, allowing them to effectively market the new technology to their diverse customer base.
Versatility, Quality, and Uptime
The implementation of Canon cut-sheet inkjet technology fundamentally transformed Linemark's production floor, helping to deliver widespread operational and financial benefits. First and foremost, the advanced press successfully conquered the photographic quality barrier that had previously hindered digital inkjet adoption. The varioPRINT iX3200 handles extremely heavy ink coverages and dense solid backgrounds, allowing the facility to produce premium artistic books with stunning visual clarity. The print quality is so strong that the print shop can now seamlessly transition complex jobs directly from their traditional offset presses to the new Canon inkjet device without end clients noticing a single difference. This offset replacement strategy helps significantly increase the volume of impressions they can efficiently run while keeping jobs financially viable.
Operationally, the reliability of the Canon equipment has helped to improve facility-wide productivity. The press consistently maintains an impressive uptime rate of more than 90 percent. Because the machine is constantly available and dependable, production workflows naturally migrate toward it, helping to significantly mitigate the labor stress associated with managing less reliable legacy equipment.
Furthermore, the Canon press easily accommodates the wildly diverse paper requirements inherent to the print-on-demand market. It effortlessly processes a vast array of unique substrates without requiring special coatings, and Canon actively helped profile their regular paper stocks to ensure immediate readiness. Finally, the new capabilities have revolutionized the company's direct mail operations by enabling high-quality monochrome imprinting that helps to eliminate the logistical need for pre-printed shells, directly resulting in faster turnaround times.
Future-Proofing the Print Floor
By successfully integrating Canon production printing technology, Linemark expertly bridged the historical gap between high-speed digital efficiency and premium offset quality. The organization strongly anticipates that advanced inkjet systems will play a dominant role in the future of their facility. Relieved of their previous quality limitations and reliability issues, the commercial printer is now perfectly positioned to aggressively expand its print-on-demand and direct mail offerings while supporting exceptional customer satisfaction.
Interested in learning how Canon production printing technology can help your business grow? Contact us today.