MELVILLE, N.Y. - Canon Solutions America, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Canon U.S.A., Inc. today announced that Compu-Mail, a Grand Island, NY-based company offering complete direct marketing services via mail and digital channels, recently acquired its first Océ VarioPrint i300. Compu-Mail expects the Océ VarioPrint i300 and its new partnership with Canon Solutions America to play a significant role in revitalizing the direct mail marketing space with its ability to produce more relevant and targeted messaging in direct mail packages and communication pieces.

Compu-Mail provides end-to-end direct marketing and business printing services to many clients across the U.S. and Canada. Considered primarily a direct mail marketing company, its services have evolved to include email marketing, data driven marketing with database management, statement rendering, and variable imaging. It currently delivers 15 million packages and nearly seven million emails a month. With over 40 years of experience in direct mail marketing and supporting a wide range of clients across almost every vertical market, Compu-Mail firmly believes that in order to secure longevity within the direct mail marketing space it must maintain an integrated approach, from print technology to multi-channel campaigns with email or push messaging. Nevertheless, the company consistently seeks to improve daily print operations, considering direct mail to have a much greater impact than online marketing techniques. Ad-mail and variable data printing make up a large portion of Compu-Mail's business, due to a client base consisting of sophisticated marketers that use mail for upselling, cross-selling, acquisition, loyalty and reminder programs, and more.

"We see the VarioPrint i300 as natural evolution in our business," said Michael Vitch, president of Compu-Mail. "This press has a striking reputation in the industry for its speed, uptime, and reliability, and that motivated our decision to work with Canon Solutions America. At Compu-Mail we are passionate about direct mail and we believe this technology will allow us to cost-effectively create more dynamic campaigns for our clients."

The industry buzz surrounding the Océ VarioPrint i300 encouraged Compu-Mail to consider adding the press to a primarily digital print shop, which includes a variety of technologies from several providers. Recognizing the impact that the Océ VarioPrint i300 is having on the industry as a whole, Compu-Mail worked with Canon Solutions America to optimize the inkjet press that possesses the versatility of sheet-fed, inkjet white-paper-in, full-color-out workflows. Since installing the VarioPrint about a month ago, Compu-Mail has benefited from the ability to move between different substrates, incredible speed, and unprecedented output quality with a significantly lower cost per impression. Overall, the Production Print Solutions unit of Canon Solutions America opened the door to new possibilities for the direct marketing company by introducing the Océ VarioPrint i300's ability to draw from multiple paper sources, automatic duplexing, and in-line finishing.  

"So far, the VarioPrint has exceeded our expectations and if it continues to perform as it has over the last month, we anticipate acquiring additional presses from Canon Solutions America," added Vitch. "The service team at Canon Solutions America was exceptional and persistent; a great help in executing a seamless implementation into our existing workflow. We are now able to utilize full variable color on the fly, while simultaneously producing many versions of collateral within the same run to maximize 1:1 relevant messaging for our customers."

Additionally, seamless workflow integration, reduced set-up and finishing times, and near-instantaneous drying have ensured maximum end-to-end productivity for Compu-Mail. According to Vitch, fewer operational steps have led to more flexibility and the opportunity to get jobs done quicker. "Anytime you can eliminate a step in the process you typically get more efficient and save an enormous amount of time, and that's what we were looking to do," said Vitch. In particular, Compu-Mail appreciates the Océ VarioPrint i300 eliminating the need to move preprinted shells into its auxiliary printing facility. Taking out the first step of running an offset shell has made it possible for the company to address new market segments productively and cost-effectively. As one of the first sheet-fed inkjet color production presses available on the market, the Océ VarioPrint i300 offered the company an attractive alternative between higher-cost, less flexible inkjet web presses and lower-speed, toner-based, cut-sheet printers.

"We appreciate customers like Compu-Mail that demonstrate great pride and passion for the business we are in," said Francis A. McMahon, senior vice president, Marketing, Production Print Solutions, Canon Solutions America. "As companies continue to move forward and embrace inkjet technology, we will continue to persistently work to meet our customers' expectations and protect print in all of its forms."