These include greater diversity of stock weights and surfaces as well as use of highlight colour and complex use of multiple data streams. Melbourne-based mailing distribution house Australia Mailing has addressed many of these pressing challenges with the installation of an Océ VarioPrint 5160, the first machine in the new 5000 series to be installed in Australia.

The new digital printing system complements the company’s existing digital printing systems, two Océ Pagestream 158s and one Océ Pagestream 75. Joint Managing Director of Australia Mailing, David George, says the decision to install the Océ VarioPrint 5160 was made following his visit last year to Océ’s OpenHouse, held in Poing, Germany.

“We were in the position of having to increase our digital printing capacity to handle the amount of variable data printing we were receiving requiring specialist input,” he says. “Our output includes letters, statements and certificates as well as some unique marketing and financial applications.

 

Special demonstration
“When I heard about the Océ VarioPrint 5160 I arranged a special demonstration to test its ability to handle some of the requests we receive. In particular we produce mailing pieces which involve plastic cards adhered to standard paper correspondence, with both surfaces needing to be printed in one pass.

“I was able to ascertain that the machine could print these out without problem. I was also impressed with the range of papers and surfaces the Océ VarioPrint 5160 can handle. It has no trouble printing on stocks from 60g/m2 to 190g/m2, particularly on coated stocks which often cause problems for digital equipment. “The secret of the machine is its utilisation of vacuum feeding of stocks, rather than the customary friction feed.”

“One further requirement we had was that the machine print out paper sizes larger than A3 if required. The Océ VarioPrint 5160 can handle sizes up to 310 x 432 mm.”

“It also comes equipped with spot colour and MICR encoding if required. It’s extremely flexible equipment with excellent finishing options.”

Océ VarioPrint 5160 finishing options include:

Support level
David George says that his company has been impressed for many years by the level of support that it has received from Océ. “If we have the slightest problem I can depend on Océ to be out on site immediately, providing technical assistance."

 

Constant deadlines
“This kind of help gives you the confidence you need when you’re up against almost constant deadlines and you are completely dependent on your equipment. As everyone in this business knows, you are at the end of the production line and you have to produce on time.”

Established in 1991, Australia Mailing has grown to become one of the leading providers of information delivery systems to the financial and marketing industry sectors. Its clients vary from small business to well known multinationals. Services provided by Australia Mailing include data processing, digital printing, offset printing, mail processing, product fulfillment and distribution and plastic wrapping.

 

The company has now become the largest Océ cutsheet digital plant in the Southern Hemisphere and, with its Océ VarioPrint 5160 purchase, anticipates even larger things in the exploding direct mailing and distribution industry.