Make Every Print Opportunity Count

By Keith Knott,  Head of Production Systems Sales & Operations, Altron Document Solutions

How the Xerox Proficio PX300 and PX500 can help production print businesses grow

When I speak to print business owners, the conversation is rarely just about buying a new machine. They want to know how they can win more work, keep customers happy, meet tighter deadlines and make their operation more profitable.

That is the real question behind any production print investment: what will it help your business do that it cannot do as easily today?

Customer expectations continue to change. Print providers are being asked for shorter runs, faster turnaround times, more choice in materials and finishes, and consistent quality across every job. At the same time, they need to manage costs, make the best use of their people and keep production moving.

The Xerox Proficio PX300 and PX500 are designed to help businesses respond to those demands. They offer different levels of production capacity, but share a focus on quality, media flexibility and automation. The value is not simply in the specifications; it is in the opportunities those capabilities can open up for a print business.

Take on more types of work

The more applications you can confidently offer, the more ways you have to serve existing customers and attract new work. A customer who comes to you for brochures may also need presentation folders, direct mail, business cards, banners or short-run, personalised material. Being able to handle a wider mix of jobs can help you become a more valuable print partner.

Both Proficio presses support a broad range of approved media, including coated and uncoated stocks, textured papers, envelopes and synthetic materials. With the appropriate feeding configuration, they can handle media up to 400 gsm. The presses can also be configured for larger-format work up to 1,300 mm.

For your business, that flexibility can mean fewer jobs need to be turned away or outsourced, and more opportunities to bring additional work through your own production environment.

The optional fifth inline colour station on both models also creates opportunities for expanded colour gamut and speciality effects using additional colours such as Fluorescent Pink, Clear and Low Gloss Clear. These can help you offer premium print products and give customers more reasons to choose your business.

Meet deadlines and keep work moving

Turnaround time matters to your customers. A production schedule slowed by manual setup, repeated adjustments or unnecessary operator intervention can put pressure on delivery commitments and limit the amount of work you can take on.

The Proficio range uses automated setup and quality controls to help make production more consistent. The PX500 combines its Full Width Array Scanner with Xerox PredictPrint Media Manager Software to automate elements of press setup, calibration and media profiling.

Both models offer optional quality control capabilities that monitor colour and registration during a run, helping reduce manual checks and allowing your staff to focus on other important tasks.

The optional Static Dissipation Module, available on both presses, helps sheets move smoothly when printing on challenging synthetic and film-based media.

Feeding and finishing options can also automate routine steps, reducing manual handling between processes. This can help your team spend less time managing the press and more time keeping jobs moving, serving customers and preparing the next job.

Deliver consistent quality and protect your reputation

Your customers expect their print to look right every time. Consistent colour, sharp detail and reliable registration are not just technical measures; they are part of the experience customers associate with your business.

Both presses feature 2400 x 2400 dpi LED imaging and Xerox Ultra HD Resolution Technology. Automated alignment and colour controls are designed to help maintain quality from the first sheet to the last, while reducing the need for repeated manual checks.

That consistency can help reduce avoidable reprints and waste, support reliable delivery and give your customers confidence when they return with their next order.

Choose capacity that fits the business you want to build

The PX300 and PX500 are designed for different production needs.

The PX300 offers speeds of up to 85 pages per minute (A4) and an average monthly print volume of up to 150,000 pages. The PX500 increases that to up to 100 pages per minute (A4) and an average monthly print volume of up to 350,000 pages.

Those figures are useful starting points, but the right choice should come from understanding your current workload and where you want to take the business.

What jobs are you turning away? Where are the bottlenecks? Are customers asking for applications or finishes you cannot currently offer? Do you need more capacity, more flexibility, or both?

The best investment is the one that matches your business plan, supports the work you want to win, and gives you room to respond as customer needs change.

Technology is only part of the answer

A press is an important investment, but it is not the whole solution. Getting value from it also depends on the right workflow, trained operators, service and ongoing support.

At Altron Document Solutions, we work with customers to understand their production requirements and help them get the most from their equipment, from application and media testing through to workflow and service support.

My advice to print businesses is to look beyond replacing capacity. Think about the customers you want to serve, the work you want to win and the services that could make your business stand out.

The right production technology should help you deliver more value to your customers while building a stronger, more adaptable business.

"With the Xerox Proficio PX500’s 5th colour capability, you can take your print projects beyond traditional CMYK."

- Boksburg Print