Ricoh in €250k contract with Kilkenny Print and Graphics

7 Oct 2009

Digital office equipment provider Ricoh has won a €250,000 contract with Kilkenny Print and Graphics, one of the largest printing companies in Ireland’s southeast region.

Ricoh will provide Kilkenny Print with its newly launched Pro C900s production-class digital colour press, on-site training and ongoing service support.

Kilkenny Print is now positioned to offer its customers a lower-cost, quicker turnaround time and a more customised printing service.

Ricoh’s Pro C900s will now enable Kilkenny Print to fulfil a same-day order and delivery service that is increasingly being demanded by its customers.

It is capable of speeds of 90 pages per minute, which is an increase of more than 80pc on Kilkenny Print’s previous machine.  

The growing customer requirement for smaller-quantity customised digital jobs, including wedding invitations, posters and personalised CDs, encouraged Kilkenny Print to look for a more cost-effective alternative. 

Ricoh’s new production print machine has reduced the unit cost of output by 45pc.

Kilkenny Print has been providing print and graphic solutions to businesses in the southeast for nearly 20 years.  It provides commercial print services that include marketing collateral, brochures, books and occasion cards to trade printers, local authorities and large businesses. 

As digital printing is the fastest-growing area in the professional print arena, Kilkenny Print made the strategic decision to increase its footprint in this growing market. It needed to invest in the latest production print technology and Ricoh was chosen in a highly competitive tender process.

“The Irish printing market is in a period of unprecedented change,” Michael Brett, managing director, Kilkenny Print explained.

“New processes, changing customer demand and a difficult economy are challenging the way our industry delivers its service.  Kilkenny Print will continue to innovate by offering our customers exceptional value and quality.  Ricoh’s print solution enables us to fulfil this guarantee and allows us to strengthen our position in a highly competitive market,” Brett added.

The Pro C900s is the fastest colour solution in its class and offers exceptional colour and image quality output with resolutions as sharp as 1,200dpi.   

“This win is a significant milestone for Ricoh Ireland as we launch our latest production print technology into the Irish market,” Nora Smith, production print specialist, Ricoh Ireland explained.

“Kilkenny Print is the first Irish customer for the new Ricoh Pro C900s, having recognised both of where the commercial print market is heading and the shifting demands of Irish business customers,” Smith added.

By John Kennedy

Photo: Nora Smith, Ricoh Ireland and Michael Brett, Kilkenny Print.

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com