Integrity is aiming to take sales in its Integrity Connect division to £20 million in the next three years. Sales are currently £1 million and should reach £14 million on the back of investment in a Canon iX3200 cut sheet inkjet press, according to sales and marketing director Andrew Law.
The company already has an iX300 which is being retained as a back up to the new machine. This is needed to handle spikes in demand, Law says, adding that further investment will be needed to reach the three year goal.
The opportunity comes from growth in direct mail which is replacing the core business of regulatory and transactional mail. The new machine has the capability to print on coated papers, using Canon’s ColorGrip priming fluid, which the older machine cannot do. “It will also print at 1200dpi rather than 600dpi,” says Law
“More of the litho work that we print is direct mail, printing on glossy paper, so the new machine will sit alongside that for low runs.” The company uses narrow web blanket to steel presses for litho work.
The iX3200 has both quality and economy ink level settings enabling the company to choose which to use according to the requirements of the job. A transactional letter where colour is restricted to a logo, would use the economy setting he explains. Direct mail on the other hand will require the quality setting.
“Demand for direct mail is on a surge at the moment,” says Law. “We are getting work from retail and travel sectors and are producing some attractive print which people would welcome in their letterbox.”
In order to reach its sales goal, the company will need further print capacity with a second iX3200, this time replacing the older machine. Any new machine would also offer the opportunity to include a long sheet feeder to expand the range of products that it can deliver.
