Specialty packaging manufacturer presents custom, highly decorative containers in bid for more customers by using an INX Digital printer

San Leandro, CA – November 17, 2009 — The new business prospect welcomes you into the conference room to review your capabilities, expecting the usual company overview, case studies and the typical sales-pitch conversation. When the subject involves metal decorating and the production of a high decoration metal container, a few colorful examples produced for other clients and some drawings or a cardboard prototype may be part of the show. But that’s changed for J.L. Clark since the Rockford, Illinois specialty packaging manufacturer began using an INX Digital MD660 UV flatbed printer in mid-2009.

"Rather than show them a generic can that means nothing, we hand them an actual metal container with their own custom decoration on it,” said Gordon VerWeyst, J.L. Clark’s Director of Engineering & Metal Product Development. Usually it’s several real metal prototypes and sometimes it might be as many as a dozen or more. Recalling a recent successful presentation, VerWeyst said the client, “had no idea it was coming."

"The impact of giving a customer a virtually finished product up-front that they never thought they’d see, is pretty impressive,” remarked Art Supervisor Owen Johnson, who said this is now standard operating procedure. Johnson said they anticipate generating greater revenue with a much better process. “We know that prototypes can be effective. But we used to do it on a much smaller scale and not at the quality level we can now."

For J.L. Clark, the new MD660 digital UV printer makes more business possible on a variety of different levels. In addition to producing ‘presentation’ or ‘proof’ cans in minutes, they now give customers access to all the benefits of highly decorative metal containers and metal promotional items but at much lower volumes never before considered economically viable. The company can offer custom metal posters, containers and more on coated or uncoated steel or aluminum at speeds up to 120’ per minute. Engineered by INX Digital systems integration specialists and produced in Huntsville, Alabama, the MD660 uses highly reliable Toshiba TEC CE4 inkjet printheads with 636 channels, each delivering high quality output at resolutions from 300 to more than 1000 dpi, depending on drop volume.

"This system is ideal for prototyping," Johnson said. "We’ve run about 50 concept jobs on the MD660 during our first several months, using them as a sales tool for new client prospects as well as some of our current customers, with the ultimate goal of attaining high-volume production runs. Along the way we’ve also brought in and produced some short-run sample jobs on the machine."

J.L. Clark also benefits from the usual digital vs. conventional press time-and-money saving advantages: "You’re not making plates or setting up a press, and the sheet is basically UV-cured when it’s running," Johnson said. "We’re doing it on metal and getting fast turnaround at much less expense."