Bluejet, one of Poland’s largest branding solution specialists, has bought the country’s first Onset X3 HS with full automation as part of a wider expansion and robotisation programme.
The company, based in Gdansk, installed the new machine last month, and CEO Piotr Kaczorowski, said of the move: “Thanks to this new technology from Fujifilm, we will be able to win many new customers. The last 18 months have shown us that automating processes can help us to work in a more stable way and ensure our deliveries to customers remain consistent. Next year, we aim to install more printing equipment and robots.”
Bluejet, which also owns an Onset S20, an Acuity LED 3200R and an Uvistar II 5032 from Fujifilm, has been manufacturing of packaging and retail displays for almost 20 years and specialises in personalised large-format digital printing.
“We rely on the best, most highly advanced printing equipment on the market. This is why we’ve invested in Fujifilm equipment for many years,” said Kaczorowski. “Back in 2010, we invested in an Onset S20 and it was a great addition to our production. Once we expanded our facilities, this allowed us to develop a wider product portfolio and invest in other equipment to help us become more productive and achieve faster delivery times.
“Speed of service and quality are important to our customers. We also provide a much cheaper product offering than some other printers in the EU - so all of these factors are vital to us maintaining a sustainable customer base.
“Today our product offering is wider than ever, but we knew we needed the machinery to help us keep up with demand. We had identified a few machines which could help us address these requirements, but once we had a conversation with Fujifilm, we knew the Onset X3 HS - which has some outstanding features - would meet our requirements cost effectively.
“We’ve already managed to achieve some uniquely impressive print work on the machine; including very specific typography and even braille which we provide for some of our customers. This is a very important product for the blind and visually impaired and it forms part of our ethos to be a company that specialises in solutions that are otherwise rare in the print market. The precision of the Onset X3 HS allows us to produce this specialised print work and it’s remarkable to see it in action.”
The automated aspects of the Onset X3 HS, which has robotic arms for the loading and unloading of substrates, have impressed Kaczorowski. “The robotisation and automation of our printing equipment is very important, as it will allow us to increase production, reduce labour costs, and maintain repeatability of production. We’re proud to be the first Polish digital printing house to have these dual robots installed.”
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Kaczorowski envisages print undergoing a continuous change in the coming years. “What the print industry is seeing is an increase in demand for shorter run lengths and more personalised work. The pandemic has led to sharp falls in overall production outlays - mainly from offset - and these jobs are being transferred to large production digital machines like the Onset X3 HS.