Pretoria-based company BindCo has entered into a business partnership with Océ that is enabling it to offer customers countrywide a full range of services that represent the latest in printing technology.

Established primarily as a binding operation in 1995, BindCo has, with the assistance of Océ, expanded its offering to include design and printing, supplying customers with a service that can accommodate both single unit printing-on-demand and large volume work. BindCo has a retail service centre that meets the requirements of both ad hoc and corporate customers. This busy centre has four Océ machines that allow it to offer customers a high-volume black and white printing service.

Owner, Gerhard Vermaak, says that the largest volume printed by the service centre to date was an impressive 210 tons in 10 weeks, which happened during the census two years ago. The company's graphic design studio has an Océ CPS700 colour machine, which allows BindCo to offer consistent print-on-demand for short to medium runs. Graphic designer, Heidi-Mari Pieters, says, "Although this is a production machine, the CPS700 fits into the graphic design environment as it brings the elements of design and production together. We can print colour proofs for the client that are litho quality at a fraction of the cost."

The CPS700 also gives BindCo access to the presentation product market as it produces high quality, consistent colour and permits customisation of the end product. This means that, for instance, presentation packs can have each recipient's name printed on the front cover.

Furthermore, BindCo, together with Océ, are planning to change customers' way of thinking in terms of generating digital printing jobs. The companies are collaborating on an Internet-based system that will allow customers to submit jobs electronically, creating a totally digital process throughout. A simple select and click menu will eliminate errors and ensure that accurate information is conveyed.

Benefits

The benefits in terms of time, accuracy and efficiency are believed to be immeasurable. The intelligent website will determine which supplier will best suit the customer's requirements, both in terms of technology and geographical location, and direct the print job accordingly. The job will then be delivered to the customer's site by the required deadline. This totally electronic process will mean that the customer will receive the print job on time and at the right quality and price to meet his requirements.

Vermaak points out: "In future, it will cost the same to print five copies as it does to print 500. This will make high quality, short- to medium-run colour much more accessible to more people. We can now offer the same service to our small customers that we do to our corporate clients, owing to Océ technology."

For more information contact Pierre La Grange, Océ, 011 661 9555.