Me & My: Ricoh Pro C7200x Graphic Art Edition

Please describe your company.
Bharat Photostat is equipped with multiple print production engines from Japan and USA. The aim is to provide an entire solution under one roof from design to deliver the final product. The company has multiple in-house designers to correct and develop designs. Again, a fully equipped post-press facility is capable of meeting any kind of demands. Around 25 people work in the 2,200-sqft shopfloor of the company round-the-week.

When did you start using the Ricoh?
We have been using it for the last couple of months. With the Ricoh print production engine, we expect a 100% growth in our business. 

What are the properties of the machine you like? 
I like its extended colour gamut, especially the opacity of white, along with its robustness and heavy-duty cycle. 

Why did you decide to invest in the machine?
We opted for the Ricoh because of special colour offerings that lead us beyond CMYK. Our customers were asking for more than CMYK. Now, we can offer our customers more and differentiate their prints. It can be CMYK with white or other colours. There was another reason. It is a perfect combination of a digital printing press manufacturer and its representation in the country. Ricoh has always been a rigid and robust press, and Monotech Systems has a rich history and strong experience with digital cut sheet printing presses. For a capital equipment investment, both are mandatory.

Did you look at other similar products?  
Yes, it being a capital equipment buy, we went through all the available options in the market. 

What are the features that tilted the favour in this?
Its extended colour gamut — we can print up to 12 colour jobs on it. Its ability to print on flexible media is another reason.

How much have these features helped you in your production?
Now, we can offer multicolour printing with the capability to meet most of the possible shades. 

For what applications is the product used?
We are using it for innovation, unique applications, and digital print enhancement. Especially we would be increasing our reach to labels, packaging, special and security applications that will extend our offerings and help us in addressing a wider market.

Is there anything that you do not like or can be improved about this? 
No, not yet. I couldn’t find anything specific. Both selection and installation went smoothly with the help of Monotech Systems. We, Bharat Photostat and Monotech Systems, are in the same industrial area, and it is a win-win situation. 

If there’s a critical printing job that has come your way, would you rely on this to see it through?
Yes, definitely. We are producing flexible and transparent media on the press. 

What’s the quality like?  
Customers’ satisfaction is the utmost quality parameter. Our customers are satisfied with the printing quality. CMYK colour quality and the opacity of white ink in the Ricoh press is better than the other options available in the market. 

How easy is it to use? 
It is similar to our existing printing presses in terms of operation and our existing staff is capable enough to handle the production. There are no specific parameters to install the press. 

Who do you think the product is right for?
The Ricoh press is perfect to print extended colour gamut and target new business verticals with more offering. We can print up to 11 colours on it, including white and metallic at the speed of 85-ppm. The opacity of white is much better. We are using the Ricoh press to print short-run multicolour labels. The short-run label segment is growing well because of new start-ups and new ventures, and the demand for short-run jobs.

Under what circumstances would you recommend it to others?
We would recommend it to printers who want to serve their customers with more than CMYK on flexible and transparent, as well as regular printing substrates.