Press provides efficient and high quality production with quick turnaround offset jobs on plastic substrates

KBA North America is pleased to partner with Performance POP, a fast-growing national-servicer of point-of-purchase, advertising, and marketing print collateral based in Dallas, where its KBA Genius 52UV small-format press is a key production member for its short-run, quick turnaround jobs primarily on plastic substrates and management’s recently-announced rapid expansion plan and new corporate branding.

“In July 2014, our company decided to focus on one specialty with value-added services,” says Taylor White, president. “The point-of-purchase (POP) industry is growing and our ability to serve large clients by producing creative POP printing and POP displays has given us a nice foothold in the industry.  Starting last month, our new company brand will be known as Performance POP. Our goal is to become more of an all-encompassing POP solutions provider and having the KBA Genius press is an integral part of our capabilities that we offer in the POP business.”

The Genius 52UV 20" press from KBA North America can print on a wide variety of substrates easily moving between printing on paper and plastic substrates, giving Performance POP the ability to produce high quality point-of-purchase work on the Genius. It prints high-end lenticular, plastic, or board jobs in minimum makeready time due to the unique Gravu flow ink design incorporated into all of the five printing units on the Genius 52UV. This ink design is also a key factor in minimum waste due to the anilox roller ink distribution. The Genius 52UV is the world’s first waterless UV sheetfed offset press with a maximum sheet size of 14 3/16x20".

Since its installation in 2010, the Genius 52UV at Performance POP has served as its “go-to” press to handle the shorter-run, small format elements that go into its client’s sign kits and promotional branding programs. It is also used for the firm’s other specialty divisions: Performance Card Solutions, OptiGraphics and its sports card business.  The Genius is in operation five to six days a week for 10 to 12 hours per day producing small format POP work such as shelf talkers, window/cooler clings, as well as lenticular and transaction cards. Lenticular printing is a special technique that involves printing an image on the back side of lenticular plastic, allowing the eye to simultaneously view alternating sections of multiple images to give the impression of 3-D, flip, or motion.

“The Genius absolutely provides a value-added service to our company, especially as we move forward with our new brand,” says White. “As our company grows even further into the POP market, the Genius gives us the ability to handle the small format, lower-quantity range plastic products efficiently and with high quality. Since its installation, the Genius has provided us with fast makeready, good register, and consistent color for our clients. The press will certainly be used more as we grow our business.”

White says that he and his management team are focused on a rapid growth plan for their POP business that will include major retailers and brands all over the country. This growth plan will require the firm to continue investing in digital printing equipment as well as updating its offset printing equipment and even moving into larger format offset. “Other printers are recognizing the strength of the POP industry, so we will continue to face more competition in this space,” says White. “However, we are a very creative company, by nature, so what we bring to our clients is much more complex and valuable than just the actual ink-on-paper or ink-on-plastic print service. We help our clients design impactful POP campaigns that will truly perform in the retail space, which ultimately leads to customers picking up more of their products and taking them to the cash register. What sets us apart from our competition is that we understand the industry and, because of our creative culture, we will continue to utilize our unique talents to bring value-added services to our clients that will in-turn grow our print business. The POP industry, along with the packaging industry, has been increasing and looks to be continuing along that path. We’re very optimistic.”

Performance POP is a one-stop shop for concept, design, manufacturing, distribution, and in-store installation. Founded in 1981, this family-owned business with about 150 employees operates out of a 100,000 sq ft facility in Dallas along with another nearby 25,000 sq ft warehouse and fulfillment center. Performance POP counts retailers and big brands on a national scale as its clients through a large salesforce that includes sales offices in Atlanta, New York and Kansas City. The firm has a strong commitment to innovation in print, displays, and promotions. It utilizes in-house specialty printing and display manufacturing in its central U.S. location to provide national distribution capabilities.