Monthly Archives: December 2011

CARTES & IDentification, 2011

Last month, November 2011, MSL’s Doug and Ellen Barrett traveled to Paris, France to the CARTES & IDentification expo. MGI, a major European manufacturer, was their host. CARTES will be in North America March 5-7, 2012. More information about that show will be posted as it becomes available. MGI unveiled the new Meteor DP8700 XL multi-substrate digital press and new features for the JETcard inkjet card factory at CARTES 2011.

For more information, please read the press release from MGI.

At the expo

MSL’s Doug Barrett discusses the Meteor DP8700 XL

MGI's JETcard

One Day Left to Receive 10% Off!

After today there is only one day left to take advantage of the 10% off discount* MSL is offering to all new e-mail list members. If you have already signed up, be sure to place your next purchase order today to take advantage of the deal. If you haven’t signed-up yet, there is still time. Sign-up and receive this and other special promotions and discounts only available to e-mail list members, while ensuring you keep up to date on all the news, events and tips from MSL and the graphic arts industry.

*You must sign-up to be a member of MSL’s email list to receive discount. Limit one use per business. Offer excludes equipment, parts, service, and supplies with contract pricing. Offer applies only to new supply orders. Coupon code or sign-up must be mentioned upon placement of order over the phone. Webshop order discounts will be validated.

‘Tis the Season…

For Print! The holidays are a busy time for those in the printing industry. Paper is used to wrap gifts, send cards and package and ship presents. So, in celebration of the season, this article is going to focus on the holiday tradition of Christmas greeting cards.

Greeting Cards are a Holiday Tradition for Many Families

Until the 1840′s, it was already a tradition among families to write Christmas letters or to send a handmade Christmas card. The post office became so overwhelmed with the practice, the U.S. Superintendent of Mails asked Congress to abolish or limit the practice in 1822. Instead, mass production of holiday cards began in England in the mid 1840′s when Sir Henry Cole commissioned artist John Calcott Horsely to create the first printed Christmas card which could easily be sent to numerous family and friends. Each panel on the outside of the card depicted people helping the poor and needy, and the inner panel showed a family enjoying a festive Christmas. It contained the simple message, “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year To You”. Christmas greeting cards began being printed in the US in the 1870′s by a German immigrant named Louis Prang in Boston. Today, the American Christmas card is still a popular tradition, with more than 2 billion cards being sent each year.

MSL is happy to play a small role in this holiday tradition, providing print equipment and service to Michigan based card manufacturers. Offset presses such as the Sakurai Oliver 96 SD Series Fully Automated Offset Press are used to create quality products for consumers to enjoy, hang on the back of doors, in the hallway or on the fridge, sending a little Christmas cheer to someone else.

Happy Holidays, from MSL!

Sources:

How Products are Made- www.madehow.com, Volume 5

http://www.madehow.com/Volume-5/Greeting-Card.html

The Great Idea Finder- www.ideafinder.com

http://www.ideafinder.com/features/everwonder/won-christcard.htm

7 Places to Use QR Codes

QR (or Quick Response) codes are showing up everywhere. Smart mobile device users can use QR codes by scanning the code with their phone, which then sends them to a web page, displays text or provides contact information. QR codes are a prime example of how print can be used cooperatively with other forms of media to engage consumers. You have likely seen QR codes on direct mailings and brochures (including those from MSL), but how else can you market the use of QR codes and the value of print to your customers? Here are seven other unique places to use QR codes:

1. Business Cards: Passing out business cards is standard practice for most professionals, but how many of those business contacts actually save that card for later use? By placing a QR code on your business card, you give your business associates a way they can quickly scan and store your name, company, number and email address with a swipe of their phone.

2. For-Sale Signs: Realtors will love the convenience of placing a QR code on for-sale signs. Interested house-hunters can simply scan the sign to view more information on their listing, rather than having to write it all down.

3. Menus: On a diet? Wish you knew how many calories were in that cheese and potato soup? Add a QR code to your menu for dinners to view the dietary values of their meals.

4. Comment Cards: Looking for a way to to easily gather feedback from your customers? Give them an option to comment on your business on the the go. Place QR codes on comment cards so consumers don’t have to stay to fill them out.

5. Product Tags/ Packaging: Let your customers market your new product for you. Place a code on product tags or packaging that immediately “likes” your business or your product on Facebook.

6. Event Tickets: Use a code on tickets so fans can get directions to the venue or post their plans to attend on Facebook or Twitter.

7. Maps: Link printed maps with digital ones. Users can use their devices’ GPS systems or online maps to get to where they’re going.

There are hundreds of other ways to use QR codes to engage your target audience. Use them to market yourself, while marketing methods your customers can use on their own print projects.

We’ll Facebook you!

Mid-State Litho is now on Facebook! Find us on Facebook to keep up on all the news and updates from MSL and the printing industry. Go to www.facebook.com/midstatelitho!

On a Budget? Find Used Printing Equipment from MSL

Mid-State Litho has provided quality sales and support to our customers for over 25 years. Along with the newest equipment lines from our vendors, we also have several pieces of used equipment available. Buying used equipment is a smart way to update your shop or venture into a new market, without having to pay the full price you would find on a similar piece of equipment. MSL has recently been making a lot of changes to our website, including the addition of a used equipment page. Look for this page to be updated frequently, as used equipment often moves fast.

Used printing equipment currently available through MSL includes:

The Hamada RS-34 LS is a versatile two-color printing press from Hamada made to be durable and user-friendly. If you are looking for an easy-keeper offset press which will please your customers with high-quality product and benefit your shop, you want to take a closer look at this Hamada RS-34 offset press

The Horizon FC-10 and SPF-10 combination booklet maker stitches and folds at top speeds, and can be put in line with a Horizon collator. Easy to operate, this user-friendly booklet maker provides quality trimming and high precision folding. Variable delivery belt advancement insures smooth delivery and easy handing regardless of book thickness. If your business is in need of a reliable and affordable folder/stitcher, MSL invites you to check out this FC/SPF-10 combination booklet maker from Horizon.

The Champion Paper Cutter is the only UL listed cutter in its class. Simple job programming and rugged construction ensure dependability and productivity. The Champion is made to go all day, every day, without pausing for time consuming maintenance. Menu assisted job set-up and tangible numeric buttons aid in simplifying the otherwise complicated task of programming a job and storing it. Challenge’s unique software system lets you enter measurements however you like, enter in inches, fractions or millimeters and they will be converted on the fly to save you time This Challenge paper cutter will benefit your business with increased productivity, while satisfying your bottom-line.

The Mitsubishi DPX4 Platesetter was designed for print shops looking for the quality found in a CTP, but have a budget they need to stick to. This polyester plate imager provides that but at significantly less cost as compared to metal. Known for high quality platestters, Mitsubishi’s DPX4 offers a small shop footprint automatic computer-to-polyester plate system. Easy to operate and maintain, this Mitsubishi DPX4 Platesetter is for the print shop looking for space-saving, efficient platesetter at a manageable price.

The Standard ST-60 Dual Stacker provides your shop with continuous production. The dual stacker automatically diverts collated sets to a second stacker when one stacker is full. The ST-60 is also equipped with an eject station for irregular sets to allow non-stop production. If your shop is based on productivity and efficiency, this Standard ST-60 dual stacker is worth a closer look.

If you are looking to update your shop, keep these products in mind, and remember, check back midstatelitho.net for used printing equipment often.

MSL Graphic Express

Mid-State Litho's Tips, Tricks, and News for the Printing Industry