The Business of Colour, Clients, and Commitment
Building Success One Print at a Time: The Spectrum Print Plus Journey
“After months of rigorous evaluation, the clear winner had been right in front of us all along—it was the Iridesse!”
About the Client
Spectrum Print Plus, based in Canton, Massachusetts, has established a strong reputation for quality and reliability in the print industry over the past 17 years. Under the leadership of Mark Zimmerman (Owner/President of Spectrum Print Plus), the company has experienced significant growth and success. Founded in 2007 with a single rented room with one digital colour copier, Mark began by brokering print services. As the business and client base expanded, so did Mark's ambition.
When Spectrum's volume exceeded the capacity of its initial equipment, Mark strategically acquired additional machinery from his family’s existing print business. With a growing and stable customer base, Spectrum Print Plus relocated to a larger commercial building, which Mark eventually purchased, securing a permanent home for the company.
Fast forward to today, and Spectrum Print Plus employs 11 dedicated staff members and offers advanced printing capabilities, including the Xerox® iGen® 5 Press, Xerox® Iridesse® Production Press with 6 colours (Silver and Clear), as well as Large Format printing. The company also offers a range of finishing solutions tailored to the diverse needs of its clients, which include premium restaurants, the hospitality sector, healthcare providers, manufacturers, utility companies, and professional sports teams. This versatility underscores their commitment to service and quality. Additionally, they recently received the 2024 Printing Industries of New England (PINE) Award for Best Self-Promotion Piece.
We asked Mark what Spectrum Print Plus meant and he said “Spectrum implies the number of print and finishing solutions we can provide our clients; the Plus is the care we take in producing their work. We are always pushing the envelope and helping our clients with Design Ideas, Media Ideas, and Finishing Ideas to take their work to the next level, producing work for them is very personal to me, and ensuring they are happy is what keeps me going”.
The Challenge
Talent, Technology, Utilisation: Ensuring Success Through Key Pillars
According to Lisa Zimmerman, Office Manager, “There are three key challenges (pillars) we watch to ensure our continued business success.”
Talent Acquisition and Retention: Identify and retain knowledgeable employees, providing them with clear training and growth opportunities within the organisation. This approach enables the expansion into additional shifts to manage increased workloads effectively when needed.
Technological Advancements: Stay informed of the latest developments in print, workflow, colour, media, and finishing technologies to maintain a competitive edge.
Maximise Equipment Utilisation: Fully leverage the capabilities of existing equipment and ensure that our clients are aware of the full range of services available.
"For many years, we relied on the Xerox® Colour 1000i Press, which proved to be a dependable workhorse. However, it began to require more maintenance and attention, prompting us to seek a more reliable solution with superior image quality and colour control, while maintaining ease of use. We needed a system our operators could quickly adapt to, minimising downtime. Our objective was to find a solution that could be installed one day and operational the next. After consulting with various vendors, our key requirements emerged: reliability, speed, colour quality, speciality colours, clear options for spots and floods, and automation to ensure consistent colour and image quality."
The Solution
Elevating Prints with Quality and Innovation
Mark explains “At Spectrum, our key applications for the Iridesse include books, booklets, brochures, calendars, posters, menus, postcards, and table cards. When clients send us a proof request, we don’t charge them—this is our time to shine. It’s our chance to demonstrate Iridesse’s exceptional capabilities with their supplied files. This is where the magic begins”.
Our Prepress Digital Production Manager, Scott Haggerty, meticulously examines each file to see where he can add speciality dry ink silver for a stunning mixed metallic effect and a clear spot or flood. We can even further enhance our prints with clear or soft-touch lamination”.
"The Iridesse allows us to achieve full coverage printing with deep, immersive blacks and makes you feel like you can step into the image, this sets us apart from the competition. Its built-in automation ensures daily colour consistency with minimal operator intervention. As with any top-tier machine, consistent maintenance maximises performance, delivering outstanding results every time."
The Results
Precision Printing with Vibrant Results
According to Mark Zimmerman, his goal was to secure a contract with a major global manufacturer of steel-based custom signage. This potential client requires a printing partner capable of accurately reproducing the unique metal finishes of their products. Iridesse emerged as the ideal solution with its extensive range of 4-colour inks and speciality dry inks with Silver and Clear, offering a palette that can precisely replicate the client's diverse finishes with mixed metallics.
"Accurate colour replication is vital for our clients, enabling the creation of personalised products that resonate deeply and endure. Only the Iridesse has consistently met this high standard."
What is your secret to happy clients?
Mark stated, “Every client that walks through our doors, sends us a package, or emails us a file trusts us with their communication, product, or service. From that moment, my goals were clear: to provide a proof of what their final product would look like, help them select the right paper for its intended purpose, ensure the colour is reflective and vibrant on the Iridesse, and finally deliver the finished product on time and within budget. Anything short of this is a failure in my book. But the results are clear as we see client after client re-ordering. That is the best form of flattery.
My team and I work diligently with these goals in mind. Over the years, our dedication has sparked a wildfire of positive word-of-mouth comments about our capabilities. To me, my team at Spectrum Print Plus and our clients are extensions of my family. And you never let the family down.”
Die Xerox® Iridesse® Production Press
Xerox® Specialty Dry Inks
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