Here are seven key trends that in-plant managers should evaluate as they add new black-and-white equipment or replace existing devices.

By Barbara A. Pellow

Delivering Digital Conference Materials

Q Center is one of the country’s largest conference and training facilities. With 118 unique meeting venues in more than 150,000 square feet of meeting space, the Chicago facility can handle functions of all sizes. It even provides lodging for more than 1,000 guests as well as dining.

Q Center has a full-time in-plant publishing service center that has been in place for more than 25 years. Run by Mike Cabrera, Q Center’s Publishing Services Center is a full-service, one-stop conference provider offering on-site printing of customers’ meeting and training documentation, which is a key part of the value proposition for meeting planners. When an organization uses Q Center, it is looking for a professional business partner that delivers:

• Final Programs & Abstract Books
• Conference Proceedings
• Seminar/Course Books
• Session Handouts
• Pocket & Badge Agendas
• Presentation Folders

Typically, users have extremely short deadlines and strict budget parameters. In addition to demanding quality, these users want seamless integration with their training developers. Users of Q Center Publishing Services Center have complete access to this level of support. Cabrera’s team will accept files in hard copy or electronic form. They work with the client’s creative department to ensure that branding meets the client’s corporate guidelines. Using its Canon imageRUNNER 125 and 150, CLC 5000, and MicroPress for file assembly, the Publishing Services Center produces complex documents that include color covers, inserts and tabs. It also offers a full-service bindery operation.

The in-plant produced more than 19 million digital black-and-white impressions in 2006, up more than 20 percent over 2005.

“While color is becoming more affordable, black-and-white still provides the best cost advantage,” Cabrera insists. “Using our imageRUNNER technology gives us the ability to deliver combined color and black-and-white documentation. My view is that our demand for black-and-white digital printing will continue to be a mainstay for our publishing center.”

WHILE DIGITAL color has been the hot topic in the printing industry for the past few years, digital black-and-white printing still accounts for the majority of the digital print volume. According to InfoTrends, black-and-white devices produced 874 billion impressions and generated $17.8 billion in retail value of print in 2005. Total equipment revenues (equipment, supplies and service) reached $7.41 billion.

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Barbara A. Pellow Author's page

Barbara Pellow is the owner and founder of Pellow and Partners. With her long history focusing on digital communications and print technology, she works with both print service providers and equipment and software manufacturers on the development of strategies to improve revenue and profitability and grow market share.

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