Leading the digital shift by driving productivity and growth in the printing industry
Where once the printing industry was all about churning out large volumes of identical printed material, whether posters, publications or direct mail brochures, the accelerating need to reduce waste and limit negative environmental impact and the demand for more personalisation among customers has seen a shift in the industry. Although this has led to a general decline in volumes of printed material, the advent of digital technology enables printers to provide more tailored and personalised forms of added value at reduced prices.
Kyocera is committed to facilitating this digital shift within the industry. We believe that there will always be a need for printed paper-based products, and that by adopting a responsible, sustainable approach to printing, we can boost overall productivity and promote value generation and organisational growth for our customers.
We understand that the key to sustained growth is being flexible enough to identify and adapt to the changing needs and expectations of the marketplace. What will never change, however, is our commitment to quality, innovation and service excellence.
Essentially, digital printing offers an attractive alternative to the traditional analogue printing machines used in commercial printing. There are two types of digital printing: toner printing and inkjet printing. Inkjet printers are particularly popular as they have fewer parts than standard analogue printers, which means they require less maintenance and are cheaper to run. They are also significantly faster.
By leveraging the technological assets and resources of the Kyocera Group, we offer a high productivity, cut sheet digital inkjet printer at a surprisingly cost-effective purchase price.
Our inkjet printers have made it easier and more affordable for smaller scale printing businesses to produce exceptionally high-quality prints. This has expanded their customer base and allowed them to offer a range of personalised products. Additionally, inkjet technology streamlines processes for faster turnaround times. If managed correctly, it can help small business owners to expand their capabilities and offer a wider range of products and services, which can lead to increased revenue and profitability.
Unfortunately, the popularity of inkjet printers has also led to many inferior printers and ink cartridges on the market. While their price point may initially seem appealing, their inferior production, poor quality and limited longevity cut deeply into profit margins in the mid to longer term. Generally, these printers are cheap in terms of hardware, but are unable to provide the same quality or volumes as Kyocera’s inkjet printer, and the inks are extremely expensive.
With Kyocera, the cost of our ink cartridges are very competitive and in many cases a lot more cheaper than other brands in the market. We offer both a standard 1,3L cartridge or bulk ink feed option with 3L cartridges that offers an even better and lower running cost on ink per litre.
Fortunately, the fact that inkjet distributes ink directly to the substrate without the use of an intermediary carrier drum or blanket or the need for heat-generating toner fusing is a major benefit of inkjet in production print. Because Kyocera invests in sustainable processes and products, we offer superior production devices, which might cost more at the start, but ultimately increase profitability through their ability to deliver on quantity, quality, endurance and with a lower than normal ink consumption without compromising quality of print.
We are proudly leading the digital shift by driving productivity and growth in the printing industry and because of our strong partnerships, it is reasonable to anticipate that Kyocera will significantly impact production digital print facilities, as well as government, educational repro departments in South Africa in the years to come. I’m excited about the future of inkjet and the promises it offers the industry.
Heidie-Mari Middel - Production Specialist - KYOCERA Document Solutions South Africa
