‘We have an Océ VarioStream® 9000, an Océ Demandstream® 6060 and a scanner for creating mailshots on our own premises. For post-processing, we have cutting and folding systems and insertion systems. We work with the PRINTnet T package on the software side, since it lets us remain flexible and we can access all the printing systems with the same programme. We occasionally also use QuarkXpress and PrintShop Mail for small-scale mailshots and digital printing.’

A partner for life
‘We’ve been very satisfied with the existing applications. Over the years, we’ve had very good experiences with Océ and have come to appreciate them as a reliable and competent partner. We had two Océ Demandstream 6060 systems, one of which we still have today. We are, however, always on the lookout for new possibilities in printing systems and production methods, and approached Océ with this in mind. In December of 2002, Océ came back to us with a completely new printing system. We were able to view this in Munich before its introduction and immediately found it most impressive. In particular, it was the printing quality, the possibility of duplex printing, the possible colour extensions and the large variety of paper that we could print with this machine that caught our eye. Handling and costs also played a big role. The new capabilities of the Océ VarioStream 9000 impressed us so strongly that, when it came to it, only Océ was considered.’

Océ all the way
In September 2003, after first printing a million test pages in Munich, the machine was delivered to Direct Mail House. The machine was up and
running with the first production job after a three-day installation period and has been running without problems since. Mr Zaugg saw immediately that the Océ VarioStream 9000 not only fully met the demands placed on his company by their customers but that it could also open the door to completely new ways of personalising mailshots. A pilot project was therefore set up to explore these possibilities.

A highly adaptable solution
‘A main advantage of the Océ VarioStream 9000 is certainly double-sided personalisation, since we no longer need two machines. Today we print our documents faster than before and in better quality. The toner adhesion and the resolution of lettering and pictures have markedly improved. A further advantage is that we can print in a broader format. Broader formats are particularly in demand in Switzerland and a format breadth of 457 mm was always a handicap. Now we can print at a width of 480 mm and thus save a great deal. We also like the paper qualities we can now print—we can continuous feed laser print all the way from 36 to 240 gr/m². That wasn’t possible before and so the machine is a great asset to us. And we’ll be using colour in the future, another major benefit.’

Direct Mail House believes that the new application has had a marked effect on their ability to compete in today’s tough market, allowing them to become faster and more flexible while printing more and varied formats and being less expensive, particularly for duplex printing. Customers especially appreciate the good quality.

‘One of the next steps will certainly be colour, which we’ll be introducing shortly. We intend to successively introduce one colour after another because we see a large market potential by doing so. Océ will remain our partner in the future because we intend to do a lot more and there are many good developments taking place. That’s why we’ll continue to work with Océ.