Inkjet technology a winning solution

VERSAMARK DS5120 printing system partners with one of Germany's largest mail-order companies

Neckermann, one of Germany's leading mail-order companies, which has been operating under the name "neckermann.de" since the beginning of 2006, is achieving exceptionally high volume print runs with the KODAK VERSAMARK DS5120 digital printing system.

The Frankfurt am Main-based firm has standardized its direct mail production on the DS5120 and according to Martin Muhling, head of the Direct Mail Advertising department at Quelle Neckermann Logistik , the current record is "195,000 pieces in a single shift." The reliable digital printer handles up to 7.5 million addresses and logos per year on mailings, brochures, flyers and other advertising materials.

Martin Muhling comments on the criteria that led to the company's successful investment: "We were looking for a digital printing system that achieves a throughput of at least 30,000 pieces per hour and delivers a crisp printed image complementary to offset".

"Another key objective was to use an environmentally responsible inkjet printing process with water-soluble inks".

"In contrast to solvent-based inks, they can be used without an exhaust extraction system." The KODAK VERSAMARK DS5120 printing system was an ideal match.

With a printing width of 1.07 inches (2.71 cm), the DS5120 is a modular, narrow-format digital printing system for water-based inks and offers outstanding letter-quality and crisp character definition.

Part of Kodak's portfolio of continuous inkjet solutions, the system is available in a printer-only configuration that can be integrated with existing offset presses and in a variety of finishing devices.

It prints at speeds up to 1,000 fpm (305 mpm) with a resolution of 120 x 120 dpi or 120 x 240 dpi.

The DS5120 excels at barcoding, numbering, addressing, spot colors and personalization.

The DS5120 printing system enables the 15-person staff in the Mail Advertising department to effectively handle even the most demanding production cycles.

The busy department serves three other companies within the corporate group: neckermann.de , "Happy Size" for large-size fashions and "meine4wande" ("my four walls"), a furniture division.

Neckermann.de is also benefiting from operational efficiencies".

""Continuous inkjet systems are more economical in a continuous printing process: when you're printing runs in the millions, the cost of addressing really adds up," states Wolfgang Wild, general manager of Solex (www.solex-net.de) and authorized distributor of KODAK VERSAMARK narrow format inkjet printing systems.

The KODAK VERSAMARK DS5120 digital printing system has proven to be a dependable asset at Neckermann.de, allowing the company to concentrate on its expertise in direct mailings".

""In day-to-day operation, the DS5120 is very easy to use - the machine is absolutely low-maintenance".

"The printhead is self-cleaning; all we have to do is change the ink containers," concludes Martin Muhling.

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