ACUP+ 2023: Inkjet Success at Iowa State

By Bob Neubauer

University in-plants have been slow to incorporate production inkjet presses, but Iowa State University Printing Services is not among them. Last year it installed a Canon varioPRINT iX3200 and hasn’t looked back.

At ACUP+ 2023, ISU Director Nathan Thole detailed the 22-employee in-plant’s path to inkjet, from his first inkjet press demo in 2016, to his ill-fated 2020 RFQ, to his revised 2021 RFQ and bid evaluation. His five-page proposal for the $1 million investment was approved in days.

Attendees listen to Nathan Thole's presentation at the ACUP conference.

The press is three times faster than the shop’s previous equipment, and costs less to run, Thole said. He estimates it will bring $1 million in savings over the next decade.

From left: Jeff Todd (Oregon State University) talks with Nathan Thole (Iowa State University) and Gary Warren (Fayetteville State University) after the session.

Though installation was smooth, some things the in-plant would do differently next time include having all media profiled in advance; clarifying digital front-end software better to avoid later confusion; and factoring in more cost for installation and environmental preparations.

Besides the press, the shop needed a new air compressor, a reverse-osmosis water supply, and an exhaust system.

Since firing up the press, the in-plant has enjoyed a more efficient workflow, extra capacity, and a greater ability to provide VDP. Quality is rarely a concern anymore, Thole said.

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Bob Neubauer Author's page

Bob has served as editor of In-plant Impressions since October of 1994. Prior to that he served for three years as managing editor of Printing Impressions, a commercial printing publication. Mr. Neubauer is very active in the U.S. in-plant industry. He attends all the major in-plant conferences and has visited more than 170 in-plant operations around the world. He has given presentations to numerous in-plant groups in the U.S., Canada and Australia, including the Association of College and University Printers and the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association. He also coordinates the annual In-Print contest, co-sponsored by IPMA and In-plant Impressions.