CJ Graphics, a North American printing company, will be the first customer on the continent to install a Heidelberg Jetfire 50 industrial inkjet press, at its production site in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. The installation expands Heidelberg’s presence in the North American digital printing market and is another step toward hybrid production environments in print shops. CJ Graphics said the investment responds to growing demand for shorter runs, personalized print products and faster turnaround times, and reflects its aim to adopt new technology early and offer customers greater flexibility.

Hybrid production environment

CJ Graphics brings 33 specialized business units under one roof, according to the company. Its services include direct marketing, packaging printing, large-format applications, logistics solutions, finishing and digital communication services. Its existing production environment includes a Speedmaster XL 106 and other digital printing systems. The Jetfire 50 adds an industrial inkjet solution, allowing the company to use offset, inkjet and toner technologies together. The company said this setup gives it more flexibility to optimize quality, productivity, turnaround times and personalization for each job.

“Today’s market demands the highest quality and competitive prices, while at the same time requiring ever-shorter turnaround times. With a hybrid production strategy, print shops can use exactly the technology that offers the greatest added value for each specific job,” said David Schmedding, CSO at Heidelberg. “With the Jetfire 50, Heidelberg is further expanding its position in industrial digital printing and helping customers worldwide to successfully tap into the potential of hybrid production strategies.”

Two-year evaluation

Before deciding on the investment, CJ Graphics spent nearly two years analyzing various inkjet systems and comparing applications, substrates and production scenarios. The evaluation focused on print quality, cost-effectiveness, productivity, maintenance requirements and ease of use. The company paid particular attention to how the print quality compared with that of its Speedmaster XL 106. Identical print designs were produced and evaluated on both systems in extensive tests, and the results led the CJ Graphics team to select the Jetfire 50. The company cited high print quality, operating costs and the reliability of the technology as the deciding factors.

“After extensive testing and comparisons with the leading inkjet solutions on the market, we chose the Jetfire 50 from Heidelberg. The print quality was exceptional, and the cost-effectiveness was compelling,” said Jay Mandarino, founder and owner of CJ Graphics.

Announced at Print Media Center Americas opening

Heidelberg announced the CJ Graphics investment at the grand opening of its new Print Media Center Americas (Home of Print) in Marietta, Georgia, USA. The center will serve as a hub for product demonstrations, training sessions and discussions about Heidelberg’s printing solutions in North America. As a systems integrator, Heidelberg will showcase its digital ecosystem for end-to-end production in commercial, packaging and label printing at the site.

“Print Media Center Americas – Home of Print represents much more than a new building. It reflects a new Heidelberg and a new way of thinking centered around collaboration,” said Clarence Penge, president of Heidelberg USA. “By bringing our people, expertise and industry-leading technology together under one roof, we’re transforming how we support our customers, building a stronger foundation to help them succeed today and into the future.”

Partnership

The collaboration between CJ Graphics and Heidelberg dates back more than four decades, and the installation of the first Jetfire 50 in North America begins a new chapter in it. The investment also reflects a shift in the printing industry, where printing companies are increasingly becoming integrated communications and solutions providers that combine different production processes to offer flexibility, efficiency and responsiveness.