Brentwood, Essex – February 26, 2007 – The Open University, whose 200,000 students make it the UK’s largest, has introduced Océ digital printing systems and software that will benefit its own 4,800 campus and regional staff as well as thousands of students worldwide.

 

Instead of volume printing to desktop printers, bulk copying on distributed photo-copiers, or having to undertake cumbersome form-filling by hand, as was done previously, OU staff are being encouraged to follow ‘best practice’ in the art of improving efficiency and quality, and at the same time saving money.

 

The Open University, which has 200,000 students on its books, has replaced its previous printers with two centralised Océ VarioPrint 2110 units, a CS520 colour printer, a GBC Hole Punch and a high capacity digital scanner to meet their digital printing requirements. A Watkiss online finishing system has also been installed to carry out a range of tasks including saddle stitching, folding and trimming for high-end booklet making.

 

In line with the university’s desire to move to electronic image submissions and job ticketing, it also opted for Océ DocWorks Pro software that will link into other printing systems as well as provide a cost-estimation module. A full digital front-end workflow will create greater day-to-day efficiencies.

 

The responsibility for on-site digital printing at the Milton Keynes based campus previously came under the Learning and Teaching Solutions department, but was transferred to the university’s Computing Services department last year. This coincided with the need to update the aged printing equipment, reassess the facilities offered and provided an opportunity to reflect on how to provide an easy-to-use service to the university’s staff.

 

Océ, a world leader in digital document management systems, was chosen as its favoured supplier following a tender under the Higher Education Framework agreement.

 

Eoin Diver, The Open University’s Specialist Support and Information Team Manager, Computing Services, said: “Océ performed extremely well in all aspects of the evaluation and assessment process we undertook before we made our final decision.  Its cost-effective and flexible solutions were best suited for our volumes and requirements, and there has now been a significant improvement in reliability and efficiency.  We customised the software before beginning the roll-out to encourage ‘best practice’ across the university, which we are making available on all 5,000 desktops.”

 

Jan Buley, The Open University’s Production Manager, Central Printing Services, said: “Océ’s system is already showing significant benefits – and we would hope to make substantial savings in our digital printing costs in the future, bearing in mind there are around 15 million digital print impressions made every year.”

 

Peter McCartin, Océ UK Ltd’s Higher Education Institution National Manager, said: “We are glad to have played a key role in providing the software and printing framework, which includes a cost estimation feature, for the OU to move to electronic image submission and job ticketing.”