The 10000, one of the first digital presses to cross into the 4-up space, was introduced at Drupa two years ago to great fanfare. According to an earlier briefing by HP, the number of presses that have been installed since then is approaching 100 worldwide. By the look of things, it's a great fit for the Cober operation that relies so heavily on its robust internet portal for orders, many of which are variable or versioned.
Todd Cober, left, and Peter Cober with their new Indigo 10000
President Peter Cober says the shop has moved about 80% of its 29" offset work to the Indigo. Most of those jobs feature some type of versioning or personalization, but Cober says the long-term goal is to generate more high-value pages on the press. But technology adoptions like these inevitably come with some sort of challenge, and for Cober some of those hurdles include educating clients and sales reps about the possibilities the Indigo allows at that size.
One of Cober's distinguishing operational features is its early and deep commitment to using internet technologies to drive business. Most of its digital infrastructure was built around HP Director, a software system used to build the portal at the shop, and which Cober credits with helping them get through the recession.
Today, four programmers manage the infrastructure that Cober calls web-to-order, as it includes not only processing printing jobs, but managing up to 42 client-branded sites, and handling electronic links, like PURLs, that are driven by print. Currently less than half its client base uses the portal, but more than 90% of digitally printed work comes from the portal. "Usually clients start small, with a few items," says Todd Cober, vice president at the company. "But, the portal also helps us to get to know our clients better. Its a way to start to scratch the surface of what they need."
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Harold says: | |
