Apr 4, 2017 - Whatever role you play inside your company’s printing operation – whether you’re the owner, the finance officer or a press operator – you know the business of print is changing. You can see it every day.
Customer expectations. Run lengths. Turnaround time. Personalization. And that’s just naming a few.
Print runs in the thousands are being replaced by smaller production runs of 300 or even a dozen. To stay profitable, your company now needs to efficiently process 200 jobs a day rather than the 20 from yesteryears. That’s the value on-demand, digital print technology can deliver.
But simply getting a digital press is not enough. You need a press that has advanced automation capabilities.
The reason is simple. More jobs means more human touches, from swapping out paper and pre-flighting files to inspecting color and carrying stacks of output to the nearest finisher.
And because humans make mistakes, the more a job is touched, the greater the risk that error will enter the equation. Human error leads to rework. Rework leads to waste. Waste leads to shrinking profit margins. You get the picture.
What if you could automate an assortment of complex, yet every day, functions such as:
- Color management
- Registration and alignment
- Clearing paper jams
- Trimming and binding
- Setting up paper for optimal printing
If you’re nodding your head, then you’ll want to continue reading. We’d like to introduce you to the Xerox Versant 180 and 3100 Presses, both of which come standard with industry-leading automation features not found in any competing product in its class.
Who are the Versant 180 and 3100 Presses ideal for?
The Xerox Versant 180 prints at speeds up to 80 pages/minute and handles average volumes of 80,000 prints a month. It is a consistent performer in the mid-production range, ideally suited for print shops and enterprise environments that need a simple and affordable solution to delivering more quality in less time. An optional Performance Package delivers top print speeds regardless of stock and enhanced automation features.
Meanwhile, the Xerox Versant 3100 is a production workhorse in a class of its own, featuring very advanced levels of automation and productivity. It prints at speeds up to 100 pages/minute and handles average volumes of 250,000 per month. It’s an ideal choice for busy print shops that need to turn jobs faster, boost productivity and improve margins through automation.
Why automation matters in production print environments
Ask any dental hygienist how often you’re supposed to floss and they’re sure to say every day. But realistically, that probably doesn’t happen. The reason? It’s cumbersome, it’s time consuming and it’s just easier not to do. It’s the same with calibrating your digital printing press. Every press should be calibrated each shift (or heck, even once a week) to ensure accurate and repeatable color, but your press operators probably don’t bother.
But what if your teeth could automatically be flossed while you brush? We bet you’d be interested. Essentially, that’s how the Versant family works.
Some features are fully automated, like process controls and automated registration for color and consistency, without an operator having to do anything. Others, meanwhile, require just a few simple mouse-clicks to initiate a press function. Regardless, they all span the production workflow from job submission to finishing – saving operator time, maximizing up-time and keeping the press churning out profitable pages.
Take color calibration, for instance. When operators learn they can perform this once daunting task with just two mouse clicks, one to start the process and one to accept the results – and it only takes two minutes and not twenty – they’ll do it daily and take pride in the results. Other built-in tools let the software do the work, requiring no operator intervention, no complex steps and no decision-making.
More best-in-class features of the Xerox Versant family
- Automated Color Management: Advanced software, known as Automated Color Quality Suite (ACQS), transfers complex color maintenance decisions from operators to an automated system, eliminating time and error.
- Stable, Accurate, Repeatable Color: Without color management, accuracy is hit or miss. Once calibrated, it’s normal for color to be accurate and stable in the short-term but drift over time. Fortunately, the Versant family keeps your color on point automatically by combining inline scanning assemblies built into the paper path that work in tandem with the systems color management software to optimize your output. The Versant 180 (with Performance Package) features an X-Rite Inline Spectrophotometer (ILS), while the Versant 3100 comes complete with a Full Width Array that automates what are time-consuming and complex tasks on other presses.
- Ultra HD Image Quality: Just as the picture on your high-definition television is only as good as its input, the quality of output on your press is only as good as the RIP data it receives. The Versant family achieves unprecedented results by combining 2400 x 2400 dpi imaging resolution with up to 1200 x 1200 x 10-bit rendering resolution. That equates to four times more addressable shades than competitive presses, delivering greater image quality for vector graphics, finer lines and text, and smoother gradients without visible stepping. In fact, this technology was awarded a prestigious InterTech Award by the Printing Industries of America as a ‘truly innovative technology expected to advance the performance of the graphic communications industry’.(Editors Note: To learn more about the technology behind Ultra HD Resolution, please read this White Paper from InfoTrends/Keypoint Intelligence: Advances in Imaging to Improve Output Quality)
- Full-Bleed Inline Finishing: With the click of a button, automatically give your collaterals, photo books and directories the polished appearance of a perfect bound booklet but with the added security of a stitched spine. The Xerox® Two-sided Trimmer and Xerox® SquareFold® Trimmer make it happen. [Square Fold Booklet vs. Regular Saddle-Stitched Booklet]
- Automated Sheet Clearing: Let’s be honest, paper jams happen. It’s almost as certain as death and taxes. So ask yourself, “Is my press designed to get me printing again, quickly, and with as few obstacles as possible?” With the Versant family, the answer is ‘yes’. When a paper jam occurs on a Versant 3100, all sheets before and after the jam are automatically ejected to the top trays. This eliminates the frustration of having to open all doors and levers along the paper path to clear individual sheets. On a Versant 180, our short straight paper path and job integrity features get you printing faster if you run into an issue.
- Extra Long Sheet Printing: Larger media size (up to 26″ or 660 mm) allows you to expand your service offerings into new applications, such as posters, dust jackets and calendars.
- Faster Media Management: Enables operators to store a large listing of stock settings and retrieve them with a single click to assign to a paper tray. For challenging media, operators can create and name special ‘Alignment’ and ‘Fold’ profiles for easy access (Available on the Versant 3100).
- Automated Inline Finishing, from A-to-Z-Fold: As the number of jobs and job types coming into your shop grows, you’ll be positioned to take full advantage of a wide range of finishing options that help reduce manual labor and provide polished, professional results.
Xerox Versant 180/3100 Press Review
Fairport, NY-based printer Printegra produces a wide-variety of high-quality business documents and custom-printed products for print brokers and resellers. For the past several months, Printegra has tested a Versant 180 Press with Production Ready Finishing options.
“It’s the Swiss army knife of cut-sheet presses,” said Tim Sellers, general manager, Printegra. “Being able to offer full-bleeds and square folds inline is a great advantage. Jobs that had previously touched multiple departments can now be done in one pass.”
For Printegra, the Versant expanded their product offerings to dealers and in turn grew revenue. The Versant’s Ultra HD resolution was also a key factor for Printegra, delivering consistent color from the beginning to the end of each run.
Which Xerox Versant Press is right for you?
Three presses. Three levels of automation. But a singular standard for quality, versatility and results.
[Xerox Versant Press White Paper] The Xerox® Versant® Family of Presses – the Versant 180 Press, Versant 180 Press with Performance Package and the Versant 3100 Press – all take automation to the extreme. You’ll get higher quality, greater media latitude and advanced capabilities while spending less time on complicated and time-consuming calibration, alignment and high-overhead offline processes.
But which Versant is right for you?
To help you determine which press is best suited for your business, we’ve developed a series of white papers that give you the technical facts and key features of the Versant 180, Versant 3100 and Versant family.
You’ve got questions. We’ve got answers.
Are current Xerox Versant Presses (80 and 2100 models) upgradable?
No, existing Versant presses cannot be upgraded with the new features or finishing.
What are some of the new features and enhancements on the new Xerox Versant Family of Presses?
The Xerox Versant 180 and 3100 Presses feature increased automation with new capabilities and specifications for finishing (ability to do full bleed in-line); increased duty cycle to the engine (45% increase for the Versant 3100 over the Versant 2100, 38% increase for the Versant 180 over the Versant 80); and advances on DFE’s to take advantage of options like Extra Long Sheet (XLS) printing (26”/660mm) for banners and book covers. Additionally, many engineering improvements were made across the entire Versant Family of Presses, such as the addition of an X-Rite® inline spectrophotometer on the Versant 180 Performance Package option.
Do the new Versant’s offer white, or metallic printing?
No. The Xerox Versant only supports four-color printing (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black). For Xerox production print technology capable of producing specialty inks (metallic gold and silver, clear) and gamut-extension colors (orange, green, blue), please visit: www.xerox.com/specialtydryinks.
Is there a Recommended Media List (RML) for the Versant 180 and the Versant 3100?
Yes. To get the latest version of the RML for all products, please visit our Recommended Media List on Xerox.com.
Does the Xerox Versant Presses support envelope printing?
Yes! Offering envelope printing is an excellent ancillary service and can complements your direct mail campaigns nicely. The Versant family features a Compact Belt Fuser and newly designed flat fusing pad to help ensure excellent output results and a reduced likelihood of wrinkling. The flat surface of the fusing pad results in a larger nip area for contact with the paper during the fusing process.
Are there any enhancements for envelope feeding and/or printing?
Yes. An optional kit (497K17190) can be purchased, which allows a larger number of envelopes to be stacked in the Advanced High Capacity Feeder Trays. This new and specially designed Envelope Support Kit contains a bracket with an extender arm reducing skew, and also includes shims to help level the stack. This envelope kit is also available for existing Xerox Versant 80 and 2100 Presses.
Are there features previously available on the Xerox Versant 80 and 2100 Presses that are not supported with the new Xerox Versant 180, 180 Performance Package and 3100 Presses?
No. You are not trading off, or giving up any features, or functionally on the new presses. Only new features, options, and improvements— nothing was removed.
Where can I watch detailed demonstrations of the Xerox Versant 180, Versant 180 Performance Package and Versant 3100 Presses?
We created a series of videos titled ‘Under the Hood’, which give the viewer a closer look at the technologies inside the Versant Family of Presses.
What is Extra Long Sheet Printing (XLS) on the new Versants?
It is the ability to print up to a 26” / 660 mm sheet from the Bypass tray on the Versant. No special license or unlock is required. All but just one Versant configuration, the Versant 180 Press with a GBC AdvancedPunch Pro, has the ability to print XLS sheets. The new Production Ready Finisher includes a tray that can be adjusted to accommodate the larger banner output.
What configurations are available for the Xerox Versant Family of Presses?
For information on configurations and ‘building’ a press configuration – including print server, feeding and inline finishing configurations – please visit the new Product Explorer page.
Where can I find detailed information on the technical features for each of the Xerox Versant Presses?
We created a series of white papers which provide an in-depth overview of all the features and technologies inside each press.