Panprint replaces all offset kit with digital

The 10-staff company has taken delivery of two Canon ImagePresss, a C7000VP and a C6000VP, at its Toowoomba print site, with an ImageRunner 1110 (pictured) set to arrive soon.

Panprint managing director Andrew Miller told ProPrint that the company made the decision to pursue an all-digital strategy shortly after he joined the company early last year.

"To me, the cost of purchasing and funding offset equipment was ruinously high for a small printing business," he said.

"My thinking was that given offset had displaced hot metal printing many decades ago, and digital seems set to do the same, having a digital operation made sense. And for a smaller business it made sense to have smaller runs," added Miller.

The move to a short-run operation wasn't without its difficulties. The business was forced to endure a four-month gap between its offset equipment being removed and its digital equipment arriving, during which time it outsourced much of its work.

Millar said he had no regrets, however, adding that the move to short-run printing was better suited to Panprint's client base of small businesses in the Darling Downs region and Brisbane.

"There have been some clients that are disappointed that we no longer do long runs, but there was no mileage in trying to fund high-costing offset machinery that wasn't being used properly - that is, for very long runs," Miller said.

The company removed a four-colour Shinohara press and a two-colour Heidelberg Speedmaster press from its floor.

It is currently in the process of removing finishing equipment that was geared towards these machines. Panprint is replacing its folding and stitching equipment, a process that Miller expected to be completed in six weeks.

Miller's faith in the Canon brand helped to drive him towards the Japanese vendor.

"They produced the quality we wanted, and that was all we were after - the quality," he said. "Canon's always been reliable in my personal view, and the pricing was good."

Panprint also has a sales office in Brisbane, and primarily produces business cards and brochures for an SME client base.