Aurora sees the light with digital investment

Print Solutions

Family run commercial printer Aurora Digital Print, based in Newcastle upon Tyne, says Ricoh’s commitment to customer service and after sales support was a key factor in it deciding to invest in a Ricoh Pro C9100.

Craig McCall, production director, said: ‘As a small company, we need a supplier that can show us an affordable upgrade path. We started researching the market and sent a lot of test files to manufacturers. Straight away the Ricoh stood out streets ahead of the others. I was also really impressed with what the company could offer in terms of service and after sales care. We really want to push the business next year and we need someone to support that.’

Aurora Digital Print has used HP Indigo technology throughout its 10 years in business, and was looking to upgrade from its HP Indigo 3000 press. ‘I am an Indigo believer – it is all I have ever known,’ said Craig. ‘I have often had sales people knock on my door trying to sell technology that was nowhere near that quality. The Ricoh turned my head though.’

He added that the 13 -pages per minute Pro C9100 is almost twice the speed of the old press and that he therefore hoped to see a 50% upturn in productivity following the new installation.

Investing in the new machine comes at an exciting time for Aurora, as it presses forward with new plans to grow its business. An important aspect of this will be its ‘Coaster Gift Card’ offering, which is being trialled with some major retailers, with a view to being taken on in their stores in 2017. The service, known as Crakel Cards & Gifts, utilises a Mimaki flatbed printer to print a personalised textile coaster, which is paired with a personalised greeting card, to be printed on the Ricoh.