Reprographer Hosts Time Lapse "Eye In The Sky"

Talk about going the extra mile for a client.

A Cincinnati reprographer was asked for a way their client could broadcast progress of a major construction project to interested parties - in this case the massive Queen American Tower in downtown Cincinnati.

The developer was interested in a way to record the project's progress photographically, to make those pictures available on the web, and ultimately to build a "time lapse" presentation of the project in varying phases of construction which could be shown when it was completed.

The reprographer swung into action. A digital camera, programmed to take a picture every few minutes, was fixed to the side of the Cincinnati Reds ballpark – which overlooks Queen City Square and the job site – and pushes images to the client’s web site in real time.

If you want to see the latest progress on one of the country's most ambitious construction projects, click HERE and watch the iron go up.

Member Alert: NEW KIP/PEiR 3100 Promotions!

We have worked with KIP and have come up with a very attractive KIP 3100 promotion for all PEiR members - specially created for PEiR.

These very attractive pricing levels will continue till the end of June 2009. Please click HERE to visit the PEiR Intranet site and check under Partner Prices and KIP Promotions for more information.

If you have any questions, please contact John Bidwell at the PEiR Group by clicking HERE or KIP's national account manager, Rich Gigl, by clicking HERE.

VENDOR OFFER: WiAir - “Be Green and Save Some Green”

Save money while saving the environment with the WiAir packaging system. No more expensive bubble wrap or peanuts, The WiAir 200 Inflatable Air Cushion Packaging Systems is designed for any business with a pack-and- ship operation needing to conserve space and save money.

• It will save storage space occupied by bulky packing materials such as peanuts and bubble wrap.
• The lightweight and durable air cushions offer greater vibration protection and at a 50% reduced cost than traditional packaging materials.
• Air cushions can be produced In 4 inch to 12 inch sizes from the same roll of film, no need to buy different film rolls to make different size air cushions.
• Film is made by polyethylene (PE), can be recycled, It contains no other hazardous substance and is biodegradable.

Packing Peanuts Bubble Wrap WiAir Cushions
Material Cost / Cu. Ft. $2.15 $7.20 $1.24
Inbound Shipping Cost / Cu. Ft. $2.24 $2.90 $.12
Storage Space Cost / Cu. Ft. $65.8 $132.31 $6.37
Total Cost / Cu. Ft. $70.19 $142.41 $7.73
* Data based on average material costs, your cost savings may vary.

For more information, including specifications on this machine and other Spiral products visit our website, www.spiralbinding.com or by contacting Ann Marie Boggio at 800-631-3572 ext 1231.

“Are You Truly a Digital Reprographer?”

I know many of you will quickly respond with a resounding “yes” if I were to ask you: “Are you a Digital Reprographer?”

Sure, all your printers are digital, all the hardcopy originals you print are digitally converted (scanned) to electronic files but does that make you a truly digital reprographer?

I would say that some of you are not.

Why? Ask yourself and your colleagues; “what is it that we offer your customers?” Most reprographers will say “printing and other related printing services.” But a digital reprographer would say something like: “Our business serves the design and construction industry. We manage and distribute critical digital information to project teams. The information we manage is stored electronically and is distributed in a variety of mediums which can include paper, CD/DVD, email and the Internet. Our business requires huge investments in digital technologies and training so we can help our customers (owners, architects, engineers, contactors, subs and suppliers) get their critical project related information in whatever format they want it, when they want and where they want it.”

Whew. That was a mouthful, wasn’t it? But it's true.

If a customer called you today to get critical time sensitive project documents to various project team members in five cities across the North America how would you handle that request? If you are like most reprographers you would offer to print all the documents in-house and ship the packages overnight using an express shipping company like FedEx. But consider this: How much of the total revenue in the print and distribute model is going to you the reprographer and how much of the revenue is going outside of the industry and to the express shippers?

Digital reprographers offer customers an alternative (distribute and print model) which gives them the power to remote print these documents within a “community” of digital reprographers who print and deliver these documents, in many cases the same day.

The same day. In every city. For less than it would cost using tradition methods. In this distribute and print model, 100 percent of the revenue stays in the reprographics industry. Printing is priced at a premium but total costs are less than those incurred with the print and distribute model.

The “distribute and print model” is the future of the reprographics business and the principle behind a new service and technology called, simply “ishipdocs.”

ishipdocs is scheduled to be launched at the upcoming IRgA convention in Pittsburgh, PA on April 30-May 1.

To help PEiR Group members become more familiar with the concept behind this new service we hosted a webinar highlighting the key features, advantages and benefits. It was well received. So well received, in fact, that we are hosting another. If you could not make the first webinar the second will be held on Thursday April 23rd at 9 a.m. Pacific.

ishipdocs is an exciting new service that you’ll want offer your AEC and Non-AEC customers who need to distribute critical time sensitive information outside of your local market.

They save money, you make money, and a lot of the usual headaches that come with the traditional distribution model are avoided entirely (more on that later!).

To sign up click HERE.

You'll be thankful you did!


Sincerely,

Shaun Meany

Mark Your Calendar: The PEiR Group ishipdocs Webinar April 23, 2009 - Encore Presentation

Position your Reprographics Business as a Digital Document Distribution Company using our latest technology solution: ishipdocs. Stop generating revenues for FedEx and all the rest and generate new revenues for the reprographics industry.

Please join us for an online demonstration of ishipdocs, the web-based solution that gives reprographers the power to send documents anywhere in the world and have them printed locally (where ever that may be) - in many cases the same day.

Learn how to save your client time and money, cut down on carbon emissions, beat the delays imposed by customs checks and other fulfillment issues. The future is here.

When: April 23, 2009
Time: 9:00am Pacific

Register HERE.

For more information call the PEiR Group office at 925-658-0200 or email us by clicking HERE.

CREST Foundation Offering Scholarships To Qualified Scholars

It's that time again, folks. If you have college-age children poised and ready for school, you might consider applying for a CREST Foundation scholarship - several children of reprographic industry families benefited last year. So why not try and take the sting out of those college fees?

The mission of the CREST Foundation is to fund and award scholarships
to children of reprographics industry employees who wish to pursue
a better education, but who lack the financial means to do so. This
foundation provides opportunities for the reprographics industry to unite
for the benefit of the children of our long-term employees who provide so
much value to the industry.

General Eligibility Requirements:
• Student must have a parent currently employed by a reprographics
company for at least five years
• Be a US citizen or legal permanent resident
• Must apply for federal financial aid using the FAFSA
• FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR) required with CREST application
• Be enrolling on a full-time basis at a college or university
• Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
• Recommendations from at least 2 qualified adults

APPLY ONLINE NOW FOR A FALL SCHOLARSHIP:
Apply now by clicking HERE.

Awards for the 2009/2010 school year will be made in Fall 2009.
2009/2010 application open from March 9, 2009 – May 31, 2009.

For more information, go to www.crestfoundation.org or
email info@crestfoundation.org

Sneak A Peek At Canon's imagePROGRAF Large Format Printers

Canon's Large Format Printer Division is providing a sneak peek at four of their new technical document and general use large format printers.

These completely redesigned printers have been built to provide end users outstanding operating convenience with their fully accessible front settings panel and assisted paper loading functionality. The reduced footprint makes these new sleek models a small, yet powerful addition to any shop or print location.

These new models bring CAD (Computer-Aided Design), GIS (Geographic Information Systems), and General Use large format printing to a whole new level.

Highlights of the new 36” iPF755/750 & 24” iPF655/650 printers:

• New magenta ink for brighter reds and blues
• New print head for cleaner lines and sharper text
• 18% speed increase in draft mode compared to the iPF720/iPF710
• Greater throughput speed with gigabit support
• Front loading roll media for greater end-user convenience
• iPF755 & iPF655 include 80GB hard drive
• New stackable media basket with the capability to neatly organize output
• Sub ink tank system to change ink without interrupting printing
• New dual blade cutter allows for faster cutting and increased durability
• New Accounting Manager provides cost accounting functionality
• Reduced C02 emissions through a smaller frame and reduced packaging requirements
• Includes PosterArtist Lite along with other workflow applications

For a pre-recorded webinar on these machines, click HERE.

These units will be officially launched at the IRgA Convention & Tradeshow on April 29th in Pittsburgh, PA and will begin shipping in early May. Pricing and promotions on these models will be released in the coming weeks. Product brochures, pricing, and images will be posted to ipfresellers.com when available.

Recently, imagePROGRAF was recognized by InfoTrends as having the number two market share for the wide format aqueous inkjet printer market above 24-inches wide, based on 2008 shipments. With the introduction of these four units and the features that they bring to the General Use and Technical Document Markets, we are confident that you will be able to help us increase that share for 2009.

Visit ipfresellers.com to view the current imagePROGRAF printer lineup.

My Dentist as Prospect - Who Woulda Thought?

I recently went for my annual check-up with my local dentist and to my dismay I discovered a great application for large format graphics unfold right before my eyes and teeth.

How many of you can relate to this? The dental assistant sets me into the chair, lays me back until I'm almost horizontal and tells me: "the dentist will be with you in a couple of minutes.” About 15 minutes later the dentist comes in and starts his typical procedures. While I’m in the chair all I can do is to look up at the ceiling and the fluorescent light fixture and wait. And that's when it hit me: how about selling display graphics to dentist’s offices around the country?

Offer to print graphic images, similar to a light box application but instead print on the translucent light fixture. I thought my idea was totally brilliant so I set out on the Internet to see if anyone was offering that kind of service in the reprographics business. To my surprise I did find a company that is already doing something like this. But that is not the point of this message.

My message is this: in times like these it is the creative sales person that will make his or her opportunities for success. So go out there and use your creative juices and find new applications and markets for your printing and digital services.

You may just be able to make someone sit up and say: Ah!


Shaun

New PEiR Pricing for KIP Color 80

KIP has just release new PEiR Group Pricing for the KIP Color 80

All of the pricing can be found on the PEiR Group Website under "Partner Pricing."

You may want to check it out!