Screen (USA) joined with Konica Minolta Business Solutions and MCS, Inc. to host a technology open house on February 1-3 to launch the newly reconstructed and redecorated Demonstration Center at Screen’s headquarters in Rolling Meadows, Ill. More than 60 customers representing printing companies from across the United States attended hardware and software demonstrations.

The Demonstration Center houses high-speed, high-quality digital printing systems for commercial, transactional, direct mail, signs, industrial and other general graphics printing projects. The unique, three-day event highlighted the economic benefits of the Screen Truepress line. Complementary printing and finishing systems, including the Konica Minolta bizhub PRESS C8000 color digital press and bizhub PRO 1200 black-and-white digital press and MCS Eagle inkjet addressing printer, showcased productive value-added solutions.

Screen’s popular Truepress 344 direct imaging press, Truepress Jet2500UV grand-format inkjet printer and Truepress Jet520 full-color inkjet web press attracted the lion’s share of customer buzz. Visitors were able to test-print several Truepress inkjet models using preselected files, as well as live job files they brought specifically for the print demonstrations.

“Truepress printing systems are so technologically advanced and simple to operate that we encourage people to test them running the kinds of jobs they print every day,” said Tom Leibrandt, Screen’s print on demand product manager. “Many of the customers supplied their own digital files for direct mail, transactional and general commercial projects. Visitors’ reactions to the demonstrations were universally positive.”

The main attraction was the Truepress Jet520, shown on this occasion with a Lasermax Roll Systems roll feeder, combining an unwinder, cutter and sheet transport unit.

“Printing companies are very interested in how high-speed continuous inkjet can help their businesses grow by improving turnaround times, lowering their total cost of print, and giving them the ability to run large, complex variable data jobs all the way down to short-run static projects,” Leibrandt said. “People know a great machine when they see one.”

“There is a lot of excitement around inkjet technology, especially in the high-volume direct mail market,” added David Loos, president of MCS, a leader in industrial inkjet technology, camera systems and digital production solutions. “The cost of digital color has declined substantially. The Truepress Jet520’s ease of use, space-efficient footprint and fast makereadies are extremely attractive. The equipment is ruggedly built and reliable. We wanted to give customers a firsthand look at the industry leader in inkjet.”

In addition to manufacturing water-based and ultraviolet-curable inkjet systems, MCS maintains a dealer relationship with Konica Minolta. Furthermore, in 2011, Screen and Konica Minolta entered into an agreement to jointly market the Truepress Jet520.

“We have worked closely with MCS and Screen to bring solutions to the graphic arts industry,” said Mike Pierro, director of dealer sales for production print and wide-format products at Konica Minolta. “The open house provided an excellent opportunity to address a portion of the market that is outside our traditional customer base. The combination of MCS, Konica Minolta and Screen products accurately reflects the technology that is available to the mail fulfillment services segment. This is a new audience for us. Highlighting our products cooperatively proved to be quite successful for all three companies.”