Japanese print shop signs subscription agreement with Heidelberg

The Japanese printing company With up Co., Ltd., based in Niigata, and Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) have signed a Heidelberg Subscription Plus contract. This agreement covers the supply of a Speedmaster CD 102-4 manufactured in China and a Suprasetter 106 DCL CtP platesetter (DCL = dual cassette loader). The volume-based Prinect Production Manager software also included gives With up Co., Ltd. access to all the functions of Prinect workflow technology. Under the Subscription Plus contract, the customer also obtains Saphira consumables, systematic services, consulting, and training from Heidelberg. Consumables and service parts are easy to order using the convenient Heidelberg eShop.

Minimizing costs per sheet

“Our Subscription Plus contract and state-of-the-art technology will help With up to boost productivity and minimize costs per printed sheet,” says Joerg Bauer, Member of the Management Board of Heidelberg Japan. Heidelberg Subscription is a comprehensive service product that has so far won over more than 80 print shops worldwide, including three in Japan. “With up is the first company in eastern Japan to opt for an agreement of this kind. Heidelberg Subscription as a whole is a promising contract model for Japan’s printing industry,” continues Bauer.

Under the contract, With up will be charged for the new production technology, complete with consumables and services, based on the number of sheets printed. Heidelberg will provide the consulting required for With up to meet the productivity targets set jointly by the two companies, leaving the print shop to focus more on supporting its own customers and on sales activities.

The entire system based around the new Speedmaster CD 102 will be delivered to the customer and installed this summer. The new sheetfed offset press is replacing an older Speedmaster SM 102 and a competitor’s system.

Freed up for new ideas thanks to Heidelberg Subscription Plus

Founded in 1947, With up Co., Ltd. is based in the Japanese city of Niigata, which is located in the prefecture of the same name. The company has 100 employees and is celebrating 75 years in the business this year. With up suffered a big drop in sales following the devastating earthquake in March 2011. Since then, however, it has enjoyed continuous growth and recorded a record result in financial year 2019. Like the entire economy, the company was hit hard by COVID-19 the following year.

Yoko Takahashi has run the business for the past 16 years. The partnership-based approach of Heidelberg Subscription Plus frees up Takahashi and her staff sufficiently to develop and implement new ideas, including areas of business other than print products.

Part of the Print Site Contracts portfolio

Heidelberg Subscription Plus is one of the company’s Print Site Contracts. These are split into two categories – Lifecycle Agreements and Subscription Agreements.

The main differences between Lifecycle Agreements and Subscription Agreements are their scope of services and method of payment. Both types of contract aim to help customers optimize their overall equipment efficiency. “Our contract options give print shops the opportunity to become more competitive by boosting their productivity, which is ideal for businesses in a fiercely competitive country such as Japan,” says Bauer. “This has resulted in growing interest from customers since the launch of Print Site Contracts last year,” he adds.