Kennesaw, Ga. – Impact Printing, a wholesale printer located in Hayward, CA, recently installed a new Versafire EP with Prinect Digital Front End (DFE) from HEIDELBERG. The new Versafire produces a variety of projects for print brokers and other print facilities including short run booklets and brochures and variable data mailings. For Impact, the Versafire offers better uptime over its previous digital press and an extended banner feeder size of 27.5”, which allows the company to expand the digital offerings for its customers.

“We remind our team that there is a printer on every corner,” said Eric Elder, Production Manager at Impact Printing. “We want to provide a higher level of service and commitment for our customers than our competitors down the road.” The Bay Area printer, who was previously equipped with a digital press of competitive technology, was pleased with its machine’s capabilities but frustrated with its reliability and maintenance costs. “It was affecting our production,” said Elder, “and our ability to meet the expectations our customers have for us, which include 1-2 day turnarounds on digital products.” Deciding to make a change, Impact selected the Versafire EP due to its ability to print with a matte finish and its versatile substrate range up to 24 pt. board. According to Elder, “After seeing the Versafire in action at another location, we were confident in its print quality and our ability to change presses without disrupting our customers.” Additionally, the company chose to add the extended banner feeder option, which means Impact can print substrates up to 27.5” long – giving the company “the opportunity to offer something new” to its customers.

Running a variety of stocks including coated and uncoated, synthetics up to 18 mil, and board up to 24 pt., Impact has been pleased with the ease in which its operators can switch between substrates on the Versafire. “They can move efficiently between jobs and are able to complete more jobs during a standard workday,” said Elder, “which means we’ve been able to increase our workload digitally.” Since installation late last year, the company has experienced significantly better uptime and less necessary maintenance compared to its previous press – all resulting in higher production speeds. In addition to lower maintenance costs, Elder says the company has saved money thanks to HEIDELBERG’s lower lease and click rates.

Impact, looking to maximize the efficiency and quality of its new Versafire, decided to install the machine with HEIDELBERG’s Prinect DFE. Equipped with the performance for complex variable data applications that other controllers have, Prinect DFE was designed especially with commercial printers in mind – enabling automated and standardized print production for excellent efficiency, greater transparency, and faster job flow. According to Elder, “We love the built-in color management technology of Prinect DFE, but my operators love the ease of being able to set-up and correct multiple jobs at the machine on the fly – ensuring every job prints the way it was intended.”

While equipped with a variety of HEIDELBERG offset presses, the Versafire is Impact’s first HEIDELBERG digital purchase. The company has been impressed not only with the quality and operator-friendliness of the engine but with the thoroughness of the installation and training process from the HEIDELBERG service technicians. Additionally, Elder said, “Response to maintenance calls is prompt, and the field technicians have all been knowledgeable and great to work with.”