Xeikon positions one of Canada's most renowned providers of direct marketing services and variable-data printing programs for continued growth.

Itasca, IL - Xeikon NV, an innovator in digital colour printing technology, announced the delivery and installation of its high-performing Xeikon 8600 digital colour press at Bassett Direct, headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ontario.

Bassett Direct is one of the most well-known and experienced providers of direct marketing services and variable-data printing programs in Canada. The installation coincides with Bassett's 20th Anniversary celebrations - and will be used to help grow its successful one-to-one marketing services.

Bassett's customer base spans a variety of industries throughout Canada. They range from banks and insurance companies to non-profit organizations and advertising agencies. Although each partnership is unique, they all rely on Bassett for leadership, innovation, counsel and valuable input on their specific direct marketing projects. "Our greatest strength is our team's total commitment to customer service," says Rich Bassett, President and Owner of Bassett Direct.

Adding to Bassett's substantial arsenal of Xeikon equipment, the versatile and powerful 8600 is a leader in its sector in terms of quality and productivity. Customers across the globe depend on it for a wide range of applications in an array of standard and non-standard formats, boasting nearly unlimited image lengths.

Mr. Bassett adds, "The Xeikon 8600 has given us the ability to do something in our shop that very few companies in North America are doing. The press is a powerful tool for the growth of our variable colour, one-to-one marketing applications. It's the right technology to produce the volume and quality our customers expect. In addition, we can take advantage of Xeikon's ability to handle unique format sizes and substrates."

The Xeikon 8600 prints at 1200x3600 dpi resolution and is capable of handling monthly duty cycles of up to 6 million pages. The press prints on both sides of the substrate simultaneously and can handle web widths of up to 20.2". The press is also capable of handling media weights from 27-lb text all the way up to 350-gsm/130-lb. cover.

"We're proud to partner with a leader like Bassett Direct," said Todd Blumsack, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Xeikon America, Inc. "They've been at the top of their game for two decades and their innovative use of Xeikon technology is validation of our team's position in the market."