FREMONT, California — September 26, 2016 \u2013 Printing is just one of many services Gilson Graphics offers, so when the time came to upgrade its offerings, the company focused on getting versatility, flexibility and efficiency not just in output, but also in the entire integrated workflow.<\/p>\n
The Grand Rapids, Mich.-based company has truly raised the level of what it can offer to customers with several new technology purchases from Electronics For Imaging. Gilson\u2019s fast-growing superwide-format inkjet graphics operation now has the versatile and energy-efficient EFI\u2122 VUTEk\u00ae LX3 Pro hybrid roll\/flatbed LED printer, complete with an EFI Fiery\u00ae proServer Premium digital front end (DFE).<\/p>\n
Gilson Graphics uses EFI Fiery DFEs and Fiery Central integration hub software in some of its cut-sheet digital printing operations. Plus, the company is making comprehensive improvements in its company-wide production workflow, upgrading to the latest-version EFI Midmarket Print Suite. The Suite is built around the core EFI Pace\u2122 MIS\/ERP technology and features new tools that will allow Gilson Graphics to integrate and efficiently manage superwide-format graphics pr
\ninting and its entire range of general commercial print offerings. The company also has taken advantage of advanced components in the workflow suite for sh
\nop-floor data collection, fulfillment, marketing automation, web-to-print and more.<\/p>\n
The broad range of technologies at Gilson is fitting for a one-stop shop that offers integrated marketing solutions to meet all of its customers\u2019 business needs, from composition to fulfillment.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur model is to be vertical centric,\u201d explains Gilson Graphics Vice President of Operations David Oswald Sr. The company has had some of its biggest successes servicing high-quality retail and manufacturing industry clients that do not want to compromise on quality or delivery times. In the past few years, Gilson\u2019s customer base of large retailers has grown dramatically because of the company\u2019s expanded capabilities and offerings.<\/p>\n
Staying ahead of superwide-format demand<\/p>\n
In each of the past few years, Gilson has grown 35 percent, expanding from one shift per day to operating 24 hours a day, six days a week. The company\u2019s strong marketing and customer service with retailers has generated even greater demand for superwide-format graphics, which left the company looking for a way to handle a larger volume of work.<\/p>\n
The new VUTEk LED printer was the ideal choice for a variety of reasons. One is that Gilson has had an excellent partnership with EFI for a number of years, according to Oswald. Company executives also liked that the printer and its Fiery DFE integrate with the Midmarket Suite MIS Gilson Graphics already uses.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe integration between Fiery and the Midmarket Suite is important to us in that it requires only one touch point for data collection and inventory management,\u201d Oswald said. \u201cThat\u2019s a nice bonus and from an efficiency standpoint saves me time because I\u2019m tied into a system that my team already understands and utilizes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The VUTEk LX3 Pro printer \u2013 superior in meaningful ways<\/p>\n
Gilson\u2019s new VUTEk printer is a versatile 3.2-meter hybrid roll\/flatbed device that can print on materials up to two inches thick in eight colors plus white, and can do multilayer printing in resolutions of true 600 or 1000 dpi. It also features 12pL grayscale print and energy-efficient, \u201ccool cure\u201d LED imaging. The printer\u2019s ability to do both flatbed and roll work at speeds up 3,400 square feet, or 94 boards, per hour, was a major consideration and selling factor.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe began looking at devices that would fit both roll and sheet capabilities. When we looked at them independently we found the VUTEk to be better in certain areas that were meaningful to us, such as the superior white ink capability and the ability to run corrugated at high speeds in flat sheets, which is very unusual,\u201d Oswald explained. \u201cSo we looked at it in its totality and when we determined it had the roll capabilities to improve our current workflow, the flat sheet capability to increase and improve our current workflow, and the ability to integrate from a software management standpoint, those three components drew us to make the decision to buy the VUTEk over others.\u201d<\/p>\n
Immediately after installation and training, Gilson put its new printer to work this summer and was off to a great start with a nice volume of flatbed jobs. The company\u2019s customers were clamoring for more, Oswald said.<\/p>\n
The Fiery DFE used with the printer will help the company run its graphics department more efficiently, particularly because of its ability to analyze submitted jobs. Job data will be communicated directly into the new Midmarket Suite Gilson is adding, so the company will have better information for calculating ink usage \u2013 one of the largest cost factors in a superwide-graphics print operation \u2013 to factor into future estimating.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can work with my customers to keep better cost controls because I have better data on ink usage. I never had that before. I could get an idea what the ink would cost, but it was not accurate,\u201d says Oswald. \u201cNow I can be very accurate and we think that\u2019s going to be a very good collaborative tool that others won\u2019t be able to offer.\u201d<\/p>\n
EFI\u2019s complete, integrated print production workflows are featured in the EFI exhibit this week at Graph Expo 2016 in Orlando. For more information about EFI production workflow and production inkjet graphics products, visit www.efi.com or call 800-875-7117.<\/p>\n
About EFI<\/p>\n
EFI\u2122 is a global technology company, based in Silicon Valley, and is leading the worldwide transformation from analog to digital imaging. We are passionate about fueling customer success with products that increase competitiveness and boost productivity. To do that, we develop breakthrough technologies for the manufacturing of signage, packaging, textiles, ceramic tiles, and personalized documents, with a wide range of printers, inks, digital front ends, and a comprehensive business and production workflow suite that transforms and streamlines the entire production process. (www.efi.com)<\/p>\n
Follow EFI Online:<\/p>\n
Follow us on Twitter
\nFollow us on Instagram
\nFind us on Facebook
\nView us on YouTube<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
FREMONT, California — September 26, 2016 \u2013 Printing is just one of many services Gilson Graphics offers, so when the time came to upgrade its offerings, the company focused on getting versatility, flexibility and efficiency not just in output, but also in the entire integrated workflow. The Grand Rapids, Mich.-based company has truly raised the level of what it can offer to customers with several new technology purchases from Electronics For Imaging. Gilson\u2019s fast-growing superwide-format inkjet graphics operation now has the versatile and energy-efficient EFI\u2122 VUTEk\u00ae LX3 Pro hybrid roll\/flatbed LED printer, complete with an EFI Fiery\u00ae proServer Premium digital front end (DFE). Gilson Graphics uses EFI Fiery DFEs and Fiery Central integration hub software in some of its cut-sheet digital printing operations. Plus, the company is making comprehensive improvements in its company-wide production workflow, upgrading to the latest-version EFI Midmarket Print Suite. The Suite is built around the core EFI Pace\u2122 MIS\/ERP technology and features new tools that will allow Gilson Graphics to integrate and efficiently manage superwide-format graphics pr inting and its entire range of general commercial print offerings. The company also has taken advantage of advanced components in the workflow suite for sh op-floor data collection, fulfillment, marketing automation, web-to-print and more. The broad range of technologies at Gilson is fitting for a one-stop shop that offers integrated marketing solutions to meet all of its customers\u2019 business needs, from composition to fulfillment. \u201cOur model is to be vertical centric,\u201d explains Gilson Graphics Vice President of Operations David Oswald Sr. The company has had some of its biggest successes servicing high-quality retail and manufacturing industry clients that do not want to compromise on quality or delivery times. In the past few years, Gilson\u2019s customer base of large retailers has grown dramatically because of the company\u2019s expanded capabilities and offerings. Staying ahead of superwide-format demand In each of the past few years, Gilson has grown 35 percent, expanding from one shift per day to operating 24 hours a day, six days a week. The company\u2019s strong marketing and customer service with retailers has generated even greater demand for superwide-format graphics, which left the company looking for a way to handle a larger volume of work. The new VUTEk LED printer was the ideal choice for a variety of reasons. One is that Gilson has had an excellent partnership with EFI for a number of years, according to Oswald. Company executives also liked that the printer and its Fiery DFE integrate with the Midmarket Suite MIS Gilson Graphics already uses. \u201cThe integration between Fiery and the Midmarket Suite is important to us in that it requires only one touch point for data collection and inventory management,\u201d Oswald said. \u201cThat\u2019s a nice bonus and from an efficiency standpoint saves me time because I\u2019m tied into a system that my team already understands and utilizes.\u201d The VUTEk LX3 Pro printer \u2013 superior in meaningful ways Gilson\u2019s new VUTEk printer is a versatile 3.2-meter hybrid roll\/flatbed device that can print on materials up to two inches thick in eight colors plus white, and can do multilayer printing in resolutions of true 600 or 1000 dpi. It also features 12pL grayscale print and energy-efficient, \u201ccool cure\u201d LED imaging. The printer\u2019s ability to do both flatbed and roll work at speeds up 3,400 square feet, or 94 boards, per hour, was a major consideration and selling factor. \u201cWe began looking at devices that would fit both roll and sheet capabilities. When we looked at them independently we found the VUTEk to be better in certain areas that were meaningful to us, such as the superior white ink capability and the ability to run corrugated at high speeds in flat sheets, which is very unusual,\u201d Oswald explained. \u201cSo we looked at it in its totality and when we determined it had the roll capabilities to improve our current workflow, the flat sheet capability to increase and improve our current workflow, and the ability to integrate from a software management standpoint, those three components drew us to make the decision to buy the VUTEk over others.\u201d Immediately after installation and training, Gilson put its new printer to work this summer and was off to a great start with a nice volume of flatbed jobs. The company\u2019s customers were clamoring for more, Oswald said. The Fiery DFE used with the printer will help the company run its graphics department more efficiently, particularly because of its ability to analyze submitted jobs. Job data will be communicated directly into the new Midmarket Suite Gilson is adding, so the company will have better information for calculating ink usage \u2013 one of the largest cost factors in a superwide-graphics print operation \u2013 to factor into future estimating. \u201cI can work with my customers to keep better cost controls because I have better data on ink usage. I never had that before. I could get an idea what the ink would cost, but it was not accurate,\u201d says Oswald. \u201cNow I can be very accurate and we think that\u2019s going to be a very good collaborative tool that others won\u2019t be able to offer.\u201d EFI\u2019s complete, integrated print production workflows are featured in the EFI exhibit this week at Graph Expo 2016 in Orlando. For more information about EFI production workflow and production inkjet graphics products, visit www.efi.com or call 800-875-7117. About EFI EFI\u2122 is a global technology company, based in Silicon Valley, and is leading the worldwide transformation from analog to digital imaging. We are passionate about fueling customer success with products that increase competitiveness and boost productivity. To do that, we develop breakthrough technologies for the manufacturing of signage, packaging, textiles, ceramic tiles, and personalized documents, with a wide range of printers, inks, digital front ends, and a comprehensive business and production workflow suite that transforms and streamlines the entire production process. (www.efi.com) Follow EFI Online: Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Instagram Find us on Facebook View us on YouTube<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[86],"tags":[179,2812],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20505"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/67"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20505"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20505\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20506,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20505\/revisions\/20506"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20505"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20505"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20505"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}