Increasing its wide format presence in the Heartland, FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Graphic Systems Division is pleased to announce the recent installation of an Acuity LED 1600 UV Inkjet printer at New Haven Print, a Fort Wayne, IN-based printer. With this latest addition to their equipment line-up, New Haven Print enhances their print solutions while expanding into wide format inkjet printing.
The Fujifilm Acuity LED 1600 is a high-performance wide-format hybrid inkjet printer featuring a proprietary-design LED light source, a high precision, high-speed printhead, and optimized fast curing UV-LED ink. Designed to provide exceptional print results, the Acuity LED’s unique, purpose-designed ink, including clear ink, along with the highly versatile FUJIFILM Dimatix Q-Class printheads, and the UV curing system all work together to allow for smooth, near-photographic results at impressive print speeds. Fujifilm’s proprietary Fast Accurate Marking technology enables best-in-class productivity of 215 sq. ft./hour to meet customer demand of high quality paired with shorter delivery times.
Over the past 33 years, New Haven Print has successfully grown from a copy and ‘instant’ printing shop to a commercial quality printing company. While still offering ‘while-you-wait’ instant printing, they realized the need early on to invest in technology innovations to expand their capabilities while still meeting customer needs and maintain market share.
“We moved to our current location in 1994, in 1997 we added our first facility expansion to house our five color offset press, and expanded again in 2007 to accommodate our first Xerox iGen Digital Color Press and future wide format department,” said Craig Dellinger, president, New Haven Print.
New Haven Print works with over 15 advertising agencies in the Fort Wayne area.
“Our ad agencies are potentially huge wide format customers. One of our agencies has an account for one of the largest national sandwich shop chains for the entire region, and we do a large number of signs, posters and POP. They choose us because they know our capabilities,” said Dellinger.
“The most defining feature of the Acuity LED is the flexibility; the capability to do boards is excellent,” according to Dellinger. “If we had to mount everything, it would really be a pain. I can print on virtually anything, and I haven’t found a substrate that didn’t print great. The Acuity LED gives us higher quality, and the ad agencies absolutely love the clear UV ink! I use the selective and spot varnish for emphasis; it’s a really nice effect and makes a huge difference.” Thus far, New Haven Print has experienced success running corrugated plastic sheet and foam board, along with banners and posters on their newly installed Acuity LED.
A high-profile client on their roster is a leader in fashionable, colorful, cotton quilted handbags and accessories, with corporate headquarters in Fort Wayne, and has been a customer for several years. New Haven Print manages in-store signage for this chain of 84 stores across North America.
Another client is a well-known car wash with 50 locations in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio, and has been a loyal customer for over 20 years, printing mailers and collateral on a regular basis. “They are a huge wide format consumer,” added Dellinger.
New Haven Print has also been tapped by German and American auto-makers to manage print campaigns mailed to car owners nationwide.
Currently in talks with two of the largest trade show companies in the area, New Haven Print will soon begin using the Acuity LED for their upcoming wide format projects. Another customer, an RV manufacturer, calls for numerous signs, banners, table tents, flyers, brochures, and interior boards for their interior samples.
New Haven Print opened their doors in 1980, and has seen lots of change, with Dellinger recalling hand-setting type at one point in his career, and he appreciates the innovative solutions from Fujifilm.
When initially seeking out wide format options, some shops focus on solvent-based products, while Dellinger was focused on the hybrid. “I looked at the competition, and then while at the NBM show in Indianapolis, I spent time with Fujifilm and the Acuity LED, and realized just a roll-fed machine would not work with our clientele. I chose the Acuity LED because I wanted a machine that could do what others can’t do,” said Dellinger.
Window clings with white are generating interest, and Dellinger see this as a big opportunity. “The three-layer printing is cool; I don’t believe any other shop in town can do that right now,” he said. “I am planning Lunch-and-Learns to showcase the functionality of the Acuity LED, offering print samples along with a nice lunch. These types of sessions have been very successful for us. Customers like to see new technology, and we’ve always kept up with innovations in the industry.” Dellinger plans to add a full-time wide format operator in the near future to his team of fast-moving and diversely skilled professionals.
“Three-layer printing (also known as the ‘day-night application’) is included in the standard RIP with the Acuity LED. This allows the functionality to print two different images onto a window cling, or any type of clear material,” said John Kaufman, product marketing manager, digital presses, FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Graphic Systems Division. “If your printing signage on clear substrate and the sign is within a lighted sign box, the image looks vibrant and pops during the day, and at night, when the sign is backlit, the image is just as striking as during daytime. For window clings, you have the functionality to print two completely different images on each side of the cling. For example, a window cling can be placed on the freezer door at a convenience store, and the customer sees one image as they approach the door, and when they open the door, another image greets them on the inside of the door,” added Kaufman.
New Haven Print has built a core of loyal customers, and is committed to being an industry leader. “Wide format is a great add-on. We will continue to grow this aspect of the business, as we must remain competitive. We can’t just sell commodity products and expect to stay in business,” said Dellinger.
In regards to pre-press and color management, Dellinger says most other shops are unable to handle the most complex files or help support their client’s technical questions. “The agencies we work with know we can successfully manage all aspects,” said Dellinger with a smile.
Craig Dellinger, well-known in the advertising community, was named NAPL/NAQP Printer of the Year in 2011, and proudly displays ‘Community Pride’ award plaques on his office walls within the 12,000 square foot facility. He has served on several boards and commissions in local government, and is currently a councilman for the city of New Haven.
“We receive great service from Fujifilm, and I had no concerns when I bought the Acuity LED. Working with Fujifilm is a comfortable fit,” concluded Dellinger.
