Iowa State University Makes “Seamless” Transition to Inkjet
Canon Solutions America production inkjet customer Nathan Thole, director of printing services at Iowa State University, credits the transition from offset to high-speed production inkjet for catapulting ISU’s print services into a new era of efficiency, quality, and versatility, all while achieving their sustainability goals. It also mirrors Nathan’s own evolution as a print industry executive.
A former ISU student, Nathan got a job at one of Iowa State University’s satellite quick print centers during his last two semesters. (He remembers printing 12 color pages per minute as a student intern!) After graduation, his manager connected him with a local printing company in Ames, where he spent more than a decade doing everything from hand bindery and design to pre-press and customer service, ultimately working his way into management positions.
Then in 2016, Nathan received a call from his former Iowa State University supervisor recommending he apply for the Director of Printing Services position. Nathan was awarded the role, coming full circle. He still recalls one of his earliest decisions as director.
“One of the first things I noticed was that the technology we were using was dated and needed to be replaced, so that was one of my first strategic initiatives: to get our equipment updated,” Nathan said.
After witnessing a press demo, Nathan’s interest in inkjet technology was piqued. The quality and speed of the machine left a lasting impression. Recognizing the potential of inkjet, he knew right away that transitioning to inkjet wasn’t a matter of “if” but “when.”
“When I saw the Canon varioPRINT iX inkjet sheetfed press,” said Nathan, “I was like ‘BINGO! This is it!’ I put together a very extensive ROI and hands down the Canon varioPRINT iX was the clear choice for us.”
“When I saw the Canon varioPRINT iX inkjet sheetfed press, I was like ‘BINGO! This is it!’” — Nathan Thole, Iowa State University Director of Printing Services
Once the decision was made, he credits the Canon Solutions America team with a thoughtful and hands-on approach for ensuring the install and start-up were successful. According to Nathan, the press was up and running within a week, and his team was astounded by its capabilities. Nathan also admits that when the varioPRINT iX hit the floor, lined up right next to it were their four offset presses and a toner device for “back-up.” However, he reports, they never again used the offset presses.
“When we first started putting our jobs on the Canon iX, I thought there would be a few jobs that we would still have to run on offset,” Nathan said. “But we just never looked back. We never did turn back to our offset presses. I was particularly impressed with how the Canon varioPRINT iX handled a diverse range of coated and uncoated papers and delivered results that rivaled offset printing. The iX just has exceptional print quality and that, combined with the production speed, makes it an unbeatable force.”
“The iX just has exceptional print quality and that, combined with the production speed, makes it an unbeatable force.” — Nathan Thole, Iowa State University Director of Printing Services
In fact, the transition from offset to inkjet was “almost too seamless,” according to Nathan.
“August is one of our busiest times of the year, but two weeks into August, I just didn’t feel like we were that busy. Jobs were being printed and shipped, and there was absolutely no backlog. I checked and rechecked our books. While it felt like we had a reduced amount of work from years prior, we actually had more work, and our revenue was increasing. It was just amazing how fast we could suddenly get work done.”
Iowa State University Printing Services’ mission is to contribute to the success of Iowa State University by providing high-quality printing services integrated into the emerging digital communications flow, at a competitive price and with a prompt turnaround time, all while being proactive with its sustainability initiatives.
“The Canon varioPRINT iX helps us deliver on our mission.” Nathan said. “With the PRISMAsync controller we are able to consolidate our workflow and boost overall operational efficiency for maximum productivity. We also can easily take on a wide variety of larger and more complex variable data projects jobs, so we are now the go-to source for all of Iowa State University’s printing needs. In addition, moving from offset to inkjet has significantly reduced our environmental impact. Digital printing offers many sustainability benefits, including less waste, chemical-free production, reduced make-ready and set-up time, and cost-efficient production of shorter runs.”
The strategic adoption of inkjet technology and Nathan’s relentless pursuit of excellence have reshaped Iowa State University Printing Services. Reflecting on the journey, Nathan offers valuable advice to fellow print professionals considering the transition to inkjet technology.
“Not all inkjet presses are created equal. My advice to those looking to get into inkjet is to do your research, evaluate what is right for you, and once you’ve done that, take the leap of faith. I haven’t talked to any inkjet press owners that regret their decision—if you do the homework, I expect you won’t either.”
