SE Color invests in digital printing

Now the addition of the HP Indigo 5000 furthers the company’s development of its digital capabilities while responding to market changes.

‘We’ve seen design work move from prepress companies to printers and into brand owners’ own marketing departments,’ comments Marc Sandler, a partner in SE Color. ‘We’ve been looking at moving into digital printing since we first saw the HP Indigo presses at drupa 2004. We were impressed with the print quality but at that time decided to move into large-format CtP as we saw an opportunity there and it was closer to our core business.’

However, investing in an HP Indigo press remained part of SE Color’s thinking and earlier this year the company was ready to move.

‘We’ve been providing a business-to-business service to 15 litho printers in the area,’ Marc explains. ‘With the HP Indigo press we can also offer a digital printing service without competing with these printers.’

The HP Indigo press gives SE Color the ability to produce proofs that look like final copies, plus an opportunity to expand its work as print brokers. ‘We already manage print projects for companies, but now we’ll be able to offer everything from a business card to an A0 poster,’ Marc remarks.

SE Color continues to look ahead and to plan carefully. Its continuous delivery of plates, proofs and other prepress jobs means that sending and retrieving finishing work ensures optimal turnaround times.

‘We looked long and hard at digital printing solutions,’ Marc concludes. ‘We were impressed with the HP Indigo press when we first saw it eight years ago, and nothing has happened to change our minds. It’s still the best digital press and the quality speaks for itself.’

In South Africa, HP Indigo presses are sold and serviced by Kemtek Imaging Systems.