Atlanta, Georgia – Thistle Printing in Toronto has become the first Canadian printer to invest in a management information system from worldwide MIS specialists for the print, packaging and labelling industries, Tharstern USA. 

The company, which prides itself on high levels of service and quality of print, chose the Tharstern system after reviewing nearly 30 different MIS solutions, including all the industry-leading packages. 

“In order to maintain our high levels of service and quality at the competitive prices our customers expect, we require best-in-class systems and equipment, for maximum efficiency and customer care,” said Jordan Fietje, President of Thistle Printing. “This investment in the Tharstern MIS will allow us to maintain and even improve our high service standards.”

Mr Fietje outlined a number of reasons why Thistle opted to choose Tharstern above so many competitors, namely:

• Tharstern’s “superior” estimating module
• The company’s understanding of the digital eco-system
• Tharstern’s “professional and friendly” people

He explained: “What we liked about the estimating module is that you are able to generate a quote, populate a docket face and give multiple production options exceptionally quick. Demonstrating it’s understanding of the digital eco-system, Tharstern has created an estimating and production ‘hub’ that can fully integrate with third party best-in-class software packages that we may need in the future.”

“When you deal with Tharstern, you are dealing with professional and friendly people that have a partnership attitude to helping you remain a success in the marketplace,” he added.

Bob Moore, Chief Operating Officer for Tharstern USA, said: “Tharstern has a unique approach within the North American MIS market, which is seeing us gain real traction with printers. For us, it’s about partnerships – both with our customers and with third party systems developers that we look to integrate with, providing customers with more efficient workflows. It’s great that Thistle Printing has recognised the benefits that our approach can deliver for their printing operation.”

Tharstern Global Sales Director Lee Ward added: “Naturally we are delighted to have the chance to work with Thistle Printing and shape our Tharstern MIS to its specific needs. Our recently formed North American division is performing just as we had hoped and to secure our first installation in Canada is proof of that.”

Tharstern, which launched into the US in the autumn of 2015, has been a pioneer in the strategy of workflow integration with its MIS. It has established tight integration with other market-leaders, for example Heidelberg and HP – both using Tharstern as a preferred partner for MIS – as well as manroland, Komori, Xerox, Esko, Enfocus Switch, Kodak, Agfa and Fuji.

Tharstern was started more than 30 years ago has a client base of more than 700 users across the globe. It has 7,000 users of its MIS and workflow solutions, with a 96% customer retention rate.