MELVILLE, N.Y. - Canon Solutions America, Inc., a subsidiary of Canon U.S.A., Inc., today announced that Access Direct Systems, Inc., a Farmingdale, New York-based direct mail and marketing service company, has installed an Océ ColorStream® 3900 digital color printing system, part of the Océ ColorStream 3000 Twin series.

Founded in 1969 as a data compilation company, Access Direct has evolved into one of the largest direct mail and marketing service companies in the United States, mailing over a billion pieces annually. From data processing and print production management to bindery, inserting, and mailing, Access Direct provides a full array of services to publishers, banks and financial institutions, advertising agencies, communication companies, membership organizations, retailers, and other Fortune 1000 companies.

Throughout its 45 years in business, Access Direct has adhered to a simple, yet effective philosophy: to consistently provide superior service and quality while maintaining the stringent requirements of its clients. Since the beginning, the company has relied heavily on sophisticated state-of-the-art technology to help it deliver on its promise of maximum efficiencies and flawless delivery. This commitment to innovation and consistent results led Access Direct to long-time partner Canon Solutions America and specifically to the Océ ColorStream 3900 digital inkjet printing system.

Access Direct was already deeply entrenched in both digital and color, according to Executive Vice President Lori Messina, but only in cutsheet solutions designed for small volumes. As its clients began looking for larger volumes, Access Direct recognized the need to expand into the world of high-volume, continuous-feed digital inkjet color printing.

“We needed technology that would allow us to produce very large numbers in a very quick turnaround and be able to maintain quality and meet all of our clients’ stringent requirements,” said Messina. “The Océ ColorStream inkjet technology dovetails right into that because it allows us to enter the world of color and personalization in a more high-tech, digital environment.”

According to Francis A. McMahon, vice president, Marketing, Production Print Solutions division of Canon Solutions America, companies like Access Direct gravitate towards the Océ ColorStream 3900 because it empowers them to deliver on customers’ expectations for a lightning-fast turnaround without sacrificing quality. It also gives them the ability to print on the ramp-up and ramp-down during speed increases and decreases.

“These days, it’s all about being cost effective and that means having as little down-time as possible,” said McMahon. “The Océ ColorStream 3000 series allows for the ability to continue printing throughout the entire process without having to wait for the machine to ramp up or down to the desired production print speed.”

White Paper In, Full Color — or Black Only — Out
Impressed by the near-offset quality, speed of operation, and quality control features of the Océ ColorStream 3900, Executive Vice President John DiNozzi was also pleased with the machine’s ability to do double-duty, as both a color printer and a monochrome-only printer.

“With many of Canon Solution America’s competitors, you have to print color all the time,” said DiNozzi. “The Océ ColorStream 3900 has the ability to cap the unused print heads, so it only takes minutes to switch from monochrome to color.”

The consistent color of the Océ ColorStream 3900 system also proved to be a major selling point. “In the world of offset, colors change over time, but with the Océ ColorStream 3900, the color is stable from job one to job one million,” said Messina. “Once you’ve locked in those parameters, you have the consistency of that color match.”

The Power of Partnership
After several months of working with the Océ ColorStream 3900, DiNozzi and Messina couldn’t be more pleased with its performance. However, it wasn’t just the superior technology that convinced them they had made the right decision buying their new equipment from Canon Solutions America. This latest acquisition served to reinforce the value of the partnership they had forged with Canon Solutions America over the years. Not only did Canon Solutions America provide a full array of professional services, including color management classes, it provided Access Direct with access to the PressGo! business development portal, which Messina says has proven invaluable.

“It’s crucial that we have a partner who not only understands our industry, but is going to be there for us,” said DiNozzi. “This acquisition was a real game changer, and Canon Solutions America held our hand and made sure we were comfortable every step of the way.”