JJ Bender: Hot Fresh Copy

The Importance of Being Regular With Variable Data Printing

The life of a commercial printer is filled with uncertainty. When are you going to run the next job on your Xerox 6060, which still has 45 months left on the lease? Who needs a big print run for their political campaign or a new version of glossy menus?

Variable Data Printing offers the possibility for establishing a more regular clientele and steadier workflow. Marketing pieces that are part of an established campaign can give you a predictable timeline for print jobs.

Moreover, direct mailing and newsletters that have been personalized through variable data printing are repeatable. Customers are more likely to bring return business if they are satisfied with the initial run. Often, you can contract for several print jobs at a single time by offering a discount based on bulk.

If you're looking into digital color equipment or want more variable data advice, consider talking to us at JJ Bender.

The Cost Savings Side of Variable Data Printing

Henry Ford figured out fairly early on that an assembly line approach to producing cars could improve his revenue and cut down on production time.

Hundreds of years later, variable data printing might just have the same effect on the graphics industry; bringing about the automation of commercial print shops and driving margins higher.

All deals come down to price and variable data printing might be the difference between losing and winning a deal.

Variable Data Printing allows printers to automate the page creation process by providing content that is set and pages that are already built. It can eliminate a lot of operator error and therefore associated time and costs. The automation of the production cycle will lead to results that can be easily duplicated.   

So the next time, you're considering variable data printing or even discussing the possibility with a customer, you can talk beyond the obvious selling point of personalization. You can discuss the very real potential for cost and time savings.

If you want more information on variable data printing or need digital production equipment, please consider JJ Bender.

Copier Finishing Options: Which One is Right for You?

It's not how you start, it's how you finish. True in life and printing. If you're looking for finishing equipment, you need to know the terminology and what might be right for the products you are creating.

The following is excerpted from the Xerox site; and is meant as a guide to point you towards the proper Horizon collator or Challenge Cutter. It's a straightforward set of definitions, as simple as you're going to find for the difference in finishing options.

Flats:
A single printed sheet, which may be folded, laminated, UV coated, or foil imprinted. The sheet may also be trimmed.

Stitched Sets:
Collated documents bound by stitching or stapling, which penetrates the media from one side of the first sheet to the other side of the last sheet.

Booklets:
One or more printed sheets, which are creased, folded, and stitched from the inside to the outside on the fold. The images are imposed on the printed sheets so that pages are in the correct order for reading.

Perfect Bound:
Individual book pages are printed on signatures, which are then stacked together in a book block and glue-bound to a flexible cover. The edges of the book block are covered and trimmed flush.

Lay Flats (Coil Bound):
Individual sheets are punched with holes and stacked together then mechanically bound offline. Separate front and back covers of heavier stock may be used. Binding methods include wire and plastic coil, plastic comb, and 3, 5, and 7 ring binders.

Tape Bound:
Individual sheets are grouped together and commonly bound to a front and back cover. Adhesive tape is wrapped around the book block, overlapping the front and back covers along the spine edge.

Case Bound:
Individual book pages are printed on signatures, which are then stacked together in a book block and glue-bound to a rigid cover. The edges of the book block are covered and trimmed flush.

If you're considering finishing peripherals or digital production equipment, please consider JJ Bender.

Konica Minolta will focus on color copiers

These days it looks like everybody wants to be in the color copier business.

Konica Minolta announced on Jan. 19 that it will be withdrawing from the camera and color film business in order to focus on color digital copiers, medical equipment, and liquid crystal displays.

"I want to put a clear end to the matter," said Konica Minolta's president Fumio Iwai. Konica Minolta will stop producing cameras and film by March of 2007.

Minolta has been producing film for over a century and joined forces with Konica Corporation in a 2003 merger.

The Konica Minolta CPP500 or CPP8050 and Konica Minolta 1050 have become popular choices for commerical printers.

If you're looking for a Konica Minolta machine, please consider JJ Bender.

JJ Bender Brings Distribution Centers Online

In a move designed to expedite delivery time and create greater flexibility, JJ Bender recently brought two nationwide distribution centers online.

The launch of a refurbishment center on each coast effectively doubles the company’s capacity for the reconditioning and rebuilding of Xerox DocuColor equipment and other high volume copiers and printers.

“We believe in providing a quality product to our customers. By bringing these centers online, this gives us complete control over the equipment we are shipping to our clients,” explained Jeffrey Bender, CEO and President of JJ Bender LLC.

At each site, equipment will be rigorously tested and have parts replaced by certified technicians. In addition, the center will offer cosmetic services for customers with showrooms or open production areas that need to have showcase quality equipment.

“Our goal has always been to offer a consistent product and experience to each of our customers,” said Bender.

The centers are the latest addition to JJ Bender’s nationwide distribution network that includes regional service technicians and warehouse facilities. They will also serve as shipping hubs through which high volume production printers and copiers can be processed and reconditioned.

Moreover, the development of dedicated refurbishment centers is a reflection of a maturing used market in which customers are demanding equipment that can be placed immediately on a showroom floor. Commercial printers with open production areas are demanding cosmetic touch-ups in addition to functional repairs.

About JJ Bender

JJ Bender specializes in Xerox DocuTech Systems and other High Volume Copiers and Laser Printers including the Xerox DocuTech 135, 6100, 6135, 6115, 6155, 6180, DocuPrint DP 180, 4135, 4635 and 92C, DocuColor 6060, 2060, 2045, 12, iGen 3, and other high volume copiers including the Heidelberg Digimaster 9110 and Canon Image Runner 110. With over 25 years of experience in the office automation equipment industry, JJ Bender is a market leader in developing creative ways to complete transactions. For more information visit www.jjbender.com or contact JJ Bender via email at mail@jjbender.com or at 203.336.4034.

Xplor prepares for Graphics of the Americas

Graphics of the Americas and the Global Document Exchange sponsored by Xplor is set for February 1-5, 2006- a combination of seminars and product demonstrations.

One of the largest graphic industry conventions of the year will focus on variable data printing. Conference seminars will cover selling variable data and how to maximize profits with color digital production gear.  The exhibit and trade show will take place at the Miami Beach Conference Center.

This is the 31st annual Graphic of the Americas convention and in conjunction with the Xplor conference there will be presentations on photo shop and creative suite software for photographers and commercial printers. For more information on variable data printing, please visit JJ Bender.