One of the unique aspects of drupa 2024 was the ability to talk to so many print service providers (PSPs) about the everyday production challenges they were looking to effectively address.

For many the focus was on one of, or a combination of, three key goals. They wanted to learn more about how to expand market opportunities, enhance client engagement, and improve operational efficiency.

They wanted to hear more about how they can open and explore new opportunities with four innovative sheetfed toner capabilities:

• Redefined substrate handling

The ability for the RICOH ProTM C9500 sheetfed toner press to run 660 micron sheets was seen as a game-changer. Printing on thicker substrates opens new market segments, including high-quality packaging, luxury business cards, and durable marketing materials. It presents fresh avenues for new products and services that were previously unattainable.

At drupa PSPs were keen to see for themselves the quality achievable. They wanted to understand the technical capabilities and therefore the markets that could be targeted with high-end print products. The biggest buzz of all was around gift cards where the Pro C9500 is making significant inroads into the multibillion-euro plastic gift card market by producing environmentally friendly paperboard gift cards that reduce print time from weeks to days — and that are 97% more sustainable for the planet.

• Fifth-color flexibility

While the fifth color on the RICOH ProC7500, and the expanded color options that include gold and silver, as well as neon pink, neon yellow, clear, and infrared, are not new, PSPs are eager to learn how best to use and sell the results possible.

They wanted to know how to use the additional color to enhance print vibrancy, offer more diverse color palettes, and create unique, eye-catching designs. They were keen to explore the creative and commercial potential and ways to differentiate in a competitive market. Important too, was understanding how they can educate their clients to help jus-tify the investment and drive sales.

• Maximized ROI with Color-Logic Touch7

Similarly, PSPs were interested in how Color-Logic Touch7 can provide them with a com-petitive edge by significantly enhancing colour matching and extending the printable color gamut. They wanted to learn how, when effectively implemented and marketed, the soft-ware can enhance print quality and expand service offerings while also delivering a good return on investment.

• Optimized maintenance schedules

Also essential to PSPs was ensuring efficient maintenance to minimize downtime and max-imize productivity. Streamlined maintenance processes are critical for ensuring reliability and efficiency, which in turn affects overall service quality and client satisfaction. PSPs discussed how to optimize maintenance schedules using the user interface menu, focusing on user friendly navigation and timely alerts.

For PSPs looking to learn more about these topics and othersRicoh offers expert advice and guidance through:
• Educational resources: Tools and training on how to sell the fifth colour to clients effectively, emphasizing the unique benefits and applications, can be found in our Busi-ness Booster online consultancy.
• Sales and marketing support: Business Booster also contains regularly updated re-sources on strategies and materials to help PSPs market Color-Logic Touch7, highlighting the competitive advantages these tools offer.
• Technical support: Ricoh’s expert team is on hand to provide guidance on optimiz-ing the use of the Pro C9500 for handling thicker stock, including best practices and trou-bleshooting tips.
• Maintenance tools: The newly enhanced digital printing technologies include user interface features and support for efficient maintenance scheduling, ensuring minimal disruption and maximum uptime.

Toner technology’s newest and enhanced capabilities have been developed to allow PSPs to expand their offerings and differentiate themselves in the market. With the right sup-port they can successfully capitalize on numerous new opportunities. To learn more talk to Ricoh.