Ricoh Europe remains the number one choice for colour, digital cut sheet presses in Western Europe for 2013 for the second full year (based on unit placements reported by InfoSource). The 36.2 per cent market share has been achieved as commercial and corporate printers selected Ricoh's Pro™ C901 and Pro™ C751 series models for their digital printing services. It has also been further improved by the popularity of Ricoh's Pro™ C5110 series, the light production press, which combines affordability with premium print quality, versatile media handling and a compact footprint.
In addition, production printing buyers chose Ricoh branded mono systems over all others, putting Ricoh into number one position for mono production printing unit placements for 2013 in Western Europe with a share of 24.0% (InfoSource).
This success comes ahead of Ricoh and Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) celebrating the third anniversary of their digital press partnership, which was announced in spring 2011.
Since drupa 2012 Heidelberg has been offering Ricoh's Pro™ C901 and Pro™ C751 series as Linoprint C 901 and C 751. In combination with the Prinect Digital Print Manager both systems can be integrated in Heidelberg's Prinect print-shop workflow enabling printers to integrate their offset and digital technologies in one workflow.
Peter Williams, Executive Director and Head of Production Printing Business Group, Ricoh Europe PLC says, "The development of our technology and services focuses on supporting the changing needs of the commercial and corporate printer to grow their business in print and beyond while improving efficiency and profitability. We are delighted that these businesses have made us first choice for colour in Western Europe overall and also number one in the top seven markets by size: Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands and Sweden. As well as in the fast emerging market of Turkey.
Furthermore, our partnership with Heidelberg is going from strength to strength. Print services providers are investing in digital colour cut sheet systems as a result of their deep long term relationship with Heidelberg and are contributing to the continuing popularity of Ricoh technology among commercial printers."
Jason R. Oliver, Senior Vice President Business Area Digital at Heidelberg, says "Our partnership with Ricoh in Europe and around the globe is a unique success. Thanks to Ricoh print technology and our own Prinect workflow, we offer commercial printers a digital or an offset choice – all from one company. Customers who have bought our Linoprint C products are
opening new value-added opportunities like hybrid applications as a combination of offset and digital technologies. Our clients are seeking to achieve the right digital/offset balance in their business, integrating digital capability into their existing print infrastructure; all driven by our Prinect workflow. For them, buying through Heidelberg is the natural choice. The feedback that we get from our clients who are investing in our Linoprint C digital devices has been exceptionally positive."
Louis Bracey from Apple Colour in Bristol UK states: "To Apple Colour the installation of our Linoprint C 901 digital press has meant that we can offer our customers a wider range of professional services. Key to this is that the C 901 is fully connected to our Heidelberg Prinect workflow system. This means we can address shorter runs, mail sorted print runs and gain new business." (www.applecolour.co.uk)
"The last three years have seen many changes in the European production printing environment. And the rate of change will not slow down," Williams says. "We see confidence returning to the professional printing community, whose business clients are starting to invest again in marketing and communications. Importantly this does not mean a return to the old world order. Permanent change is essential. Successful Print Services Providers are anticipating and adapting to clients who are demanding fast and agile support from their key suppliers. Speed and flexibility are essential. Print that connects with online is an essential element for marketing campaigns. The harnessing of Big Data, highly targeted direct mail as part of cross media campaigns, and short run books are also key features of today's evolving landscape. And sustainability too is becoming important to clients who are elevating it towards the top of their corporate agendas again."
