Xerox Debuts iGen 5 at Customer Event

Around 1,300 customers and prospects visit Xerox’s 100,000-square-foot Gil Hatch Center for Customer Innovation here annually. And that tally for 2015 increased by nearly another 100 visitors following a two-day educational, peer-to-peer networking and digital press introduction event held Aug. 12-13. Attendees primarily comprised high-end digital color printers from around the country who are considered good prospects for Xerox’s new iGen 5 digital production color press platform, which comes with an optional fifth color, as well as a scalable architecture that enables multiple (and upgradable) speed choices of 150 ppm, 120 ppm and 90 ppm, respectively.

The optional fifth color unit increases the ability to match a larger gamut of Pantone colors or unknown spot colors without hindering productivity. Orange, green or blue options supplement CMYK, enabling the iGen 5 to hit distinctive brand colors without moving short runs to offset.

Other features of the new iGen 5 press platform include:

• An EFI Fiery or Xerox FreeFlow print server to automate and integrate the workflow process from order to finish.
• Gloss or matte dry ink options that add to the ability to create unique and eye-grabbing applications.
• A 26˝ sheet size to enable more jobs and applications, such as six-panel brochures, gatefold pamphlets, pocket folders and direct mail campaigns.
• 2,400×2,400 dpi imaging, Object Oriented Halftoning, Xerox Confident Color and Auto Density Control.

Following a networking reception and dinner at the ArtisanWorks art facility the first evening, the main program kicked off at the Gil Hatch Center the following morning with industry consultant and educator Peter Muir moderating a panel discussion. It featured Mark Serbin, of Serbin Print Marketing & Publishing in Sarasota, Florida; Kristen Bridenbaugh, Roberts Communications; and Pantone’s Matt McDowell.

Serbin described his firm’s 31 percent annual growth in digital printing sales the past five years. Bridenbaugh discussed the cooperative, not competitive, roles that advertising/marketing agencies and printers/MSPs can play. And McDowell talked about the critical importance of color matching and reproduction accuracy.

Additional presentations were given by several Xerox executives, including Gina Testa, Kirk McLean, Paul Miller and Tod Viniski, on topics ranging from Xerox’s ProfitAccelerator and business development services, to a printer’s ability to achieve operational efficiency gains through automation.

The remainder of the day was spent viewing demonstrations of the iGen 5 and other equipment operating in the Gil Hatch Center, including the chance to talk one-on-one with subject matter experts from Xerox, EFI Fiery and XMPie.