University of Oregon Moves Mail, Beefs Up Digital Color

For many years, running the bulk mail processing equipment at University of Oregon Printing & Mailing Services was a lonely job. Since 1993, the in-plant’s inserting, tabbing and addressing equipment has been in the basement of its building in Eugene, Ore., down a steep set of metal stairs, out of earshot of the rest of the shop.

“It was a horrible idea to have someone downstairs in the basement, working on mechanical equipment by themself,” points out Assistant Director John Boytz. “It was difficult to get help. They’d have to come up through the plant, recruiting help.”

So recently, to improve its workflow and bring everyone together at last, the in-plant moved bulk mail upstairs with the rest of its printing and binding operation. Now mail machine operators can more easily consult with other employees about jobs, and work no longer has to be carried downstairs for inserting and addressing.

This reorganization, coupled with the addition of new digital printing equipment, has greatly enhanced the efficiency and productivity of this 27-employee in-plant.

“It also gave us a great opportunity to do some spring cleaning,” adds Boytz.

The shop got rid of unneeded tables and shelves in the basement and cleared out the area in hopes of returning it to the university and reducing its lease payments.

To beef up its print quality and productivity, the in-plant installed a Xerox Color 800 last month. It uses no fuser oil, and can run at its rated speed for all weights of stock.

“It’s going to increase productivity dramatically,” enthuses Boytz.

He says the in-plant was struggling to output long runs on its slower Xerox 700. The 800, he says, is more robust and faster. Plus, features like the clear dry ink station give the shop new capabilities to offer customers who may want to apply a spot varnish look to enhance their pieces.

“We’ve got a customer that already wants to use it,” says Boytz, of the clear dry ink feature.

The shop plans to look at variable data software so it can start offering personalized products to departments like enrollment and admissions—work the departments are currently sending to outside printers.

“It’s a great machine for that,” remarks Boytz.

The in-plant also recently added two black-and-white machines, a Kodak 110 and a 138. These have replaced a pair of Ricoh 1107s and bring higher quality to course packets, flyers, newsletters and other items.

In other news, the in-plant has offered a proposal to the university to manage its copier/printer fleet. A consultant has been brought in to inventory the university’s devices and submit a report to administration, to help them decide whether to move forward with this program.