Inkjet Integration - Q&A with Andy Matter, President of Colordyne
This year, Colordyne worked hard to redefine and strengthen its position in the print industry. To celebrate 10 years of serving the label and tag market, we expanded our reach by creating a new business division that serves more print markets. In this new space, we share our inkjet and integration expertise with strategic integration partners (SIPs) who want to add digital print capabilities to their products and solutions.
Inkjet integration is the force that drives our new business division. Andy Matter, President of Colordyne shares his insights about what the new business division mean for our company. Let’s learn more about what’s going on at Colordyne from his perspective.
Q: What does inkjet integration mean? Specifically, what is the difference between integrating a print engine and retrofitting a print solution?
A: Inkjet integration is a description we use at Colordyne for the implementation of a digital inkjet engine into a SIP’s web handling system. Unlike an aftermarket retrofit, inkjet integration is a collaborative process where engineers from both companies, the SIP and Colordyne, work together to provide the best print solution for the target end users. This process allows both companies to leverage their strengths to provide a seamless solution with advanced functionality and versatility.
Q: How does the integration process work?
A: The process begins when the manufacturer of a web handling system is looking to add digital inkjet capabilities to its products in order to offer its customers the latest print technology. After selecting the inkjet technology that works best for the specific manufacturer, engineers from both companies sit down and collaborate on the best approach for combining the technologies. Considerations include mechanical, electrical, software, workflow and more. Then drawings are created and the manufacturing phase begins to build a prototype. Once validated, the process is documented to ensure consistent replication.
Colordyne’s digital integration services provide SIPs with unique benefits throughout the development lifecycle.
Q: Why should an OEM consider digital inkjet integration?
A: The question of why digital inkjet is really a matter of application needs. Some vendors are comfortable with an aftermarket solution. In this case, the manufacturer has no requirements or responsibilities with the vendor. Undeniably, taking the initiative to integrate a digital inkjet print engine provides more advanced features and greater functionality. I like to use the example of a remote starter on your automobile. An aftermarket remote starter allows you to start and stop your vehicle from a distance. In contrast, if you have the manufacturers remote starter you are able to do more things like adjust the temperature, turn on the radio and even adjust the seat position. These more advanced features are only available directly through the manufacturer as they have more intimate knowledge of the systems. Something no aftermarket solution can offer.
Q: Can you tell us more about the changes at Colordyne this year regarding the new business division?
A: For the first 8 years, Colordyne Technologies focused its efforts on the narrow web label and tag market. We primarily sold digital print solutions to label converters, private label manufacturers and brand owners. As inkjet technology advanced, we saw the opportunity to expand the markets and applications we serve. To gain access to these new markets, we realized that we needed SIPs in those spaces who would be intimate with the applications. For this reason, Colordyne’s new business division was formed.
In this part of our business, we focus on working with SIPs who have solutions in our new target markets but have yet to take on the challenge of integrating digital inkjet. Colordyne currently has SIPs that work in markets such as commercial print, corrugated, packaging, flexible packaging and paper converting. We rely on our partners to help us transition our digital inkjet technology in a way which will best meet the needs of their customers.
Contact us today to learn more about Colordyne’s inkjet integration. Our team will be happy to work with you!
For label and tag print solutions, visit www.colordynetech.com