University of Southern Indiana Publishing Services Relies on Presstek's 52DI to Reduce Outsourced Jobs

Founded in 1965, the University of Southern Indiana enrolls nearly 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students in 70 undergraduate majors, 10 master's programs, and one doctoral program. The campus of this comprehensive public university is on 1,400 acres just outside of Evansville in southwestern Indiana. The University’s Publishing Services department houses a full-service printing and copy operation, coordinating the production of publications from initial idea to the last staple. Designing and printing booklets, stationery, brochures, business cards, and invitations are examples of services Publishing Services offers the University community. Publishing Services has 11 full-time employees, including three graphic designers.

Publishing Services was seeing a growing demand for four-color work, and with two two-color presses in place, the shop had to outsource the vast majority of its four-color work. The department was seeking a solution that would allow it to recapture outsourced work, improve overall quality, and provide reduced cycle times to meet the requirements of its customers for fast turnaround high quality short-run work. The department also needed a press with both a small physical and environmental footprint.

After researching digital printing technology options, Terri Bischoff, Assistant Director of Publishing Services, and her Director, Leslie Parker, decided that a Presstek 52DI digital offset press would be the best fit and capable of handling the majority of the shop’s four-color printing based on run lengths, sheet size and quality requirements, adding, “We had the money in reserve, believed we could make this investment without breaking the bank and that now was the perfect time to make the switch.”

Prior to acquiring the Presstek 52DI, Bischoff reports that Publishing Services was outsourcing 75 to 85 percent of its color work. With the Presstek 52DI in place, the department, which has first right of refusal for all University printing, has now been able to bring almost all of that back in house, a tremendous cycle time and financial benefit for the University.

Bischoff and Parker were particularly attracted by the 52DI’s automated performance, and its small environmental and physical footprint, adding, “We really like the waterless printing technology and the types of inks the press uses, as well as the fact that it does not use metal plates.” Like many in-plant operations, Publishing Services is space-constrained; Bischoff indicates that the press, with its small footprint as compared to other offset press options, fit perfectly into the shop.

Customers have noticed the difference and have been impressed, according to Bischoff. “Not only do they appreciate the improved quality,” she says, “but they also like the fact that we have complete control over the job rather than outsourcing the work to an outside firm who is juggling the priorities of many customers.” Bischoff also points out that if a quick reprint is needed or if a job needs to be put back on press for any reason, having the DI on site is ideal. In addition, if there is a problem with a file, Publishing Service’s design group is right next door and can expeditiously address any issues.

Publishing Services finds it economical to move runs as short as 500 from its toner-based digital press to the Presstek 52DI. “It saves us time and money, and the quality is better,” Bischoff explains.

Bischoff is also very pleased with Presstek service and support. She says, “If we have any issues, they always work through them with us. Even late in the day we are able to reach live technical support, and that is important to us. We have a great technician in our region, and he is extremely responsive. Overall, it is a terrific partnership.”