This year software solutions provider Optimus is celebrating a 20-year MIS partnership with printers in the Irish market. One of their customers, Drogheda-based Anglo Printers, is a good example of the partnership approach to business that has been the cornerstone of Optimus’ success in Ireland.
Anglo Printers first invested in MIS software from Optimus in 1991. ‘We looked at all MIS companies offerings in the market and Optimus were one of the brand leaders in the UK so we visited their HQ in Woking,’ says Anglo Printers Managing Director Padraic Kierans. ‘When we saw the software in operation we decided that it was the one for us. It was a leap of faith because it was the first MIS software that we had ever used.’
As Optimus upgraded its MIS offering over the years, Anglo Printers ensured that it embraced each software development as soon as it became available. ‘Their service offering was constantly evolving and we always tried to move with the times and embrace each new product,’ says Padraic. ‘We have upgraded our Optimus MIS software on average every three to four years since we first installed it in 1991, either by adding modules or upgrading the estimating system to a more automated product.
Dash is their most recent product and we are in the process of moving to it. We are looking to have transferred completely to Dash by October or November.’ Anglo Printers recently secured a major contract with a semi-state body and the installation of the Optimus sales order processing module, which was completed recently, was one of the criteria for the award of contract. Anglo Printers are currently uploading stock for this client and are in talks with a second new client to avail of this service.
‘Anglo Printers were our first customer in the country 20 years ago and the Optimus brand has grown steadily in Ireland since that first installation,’ says Group Managing Director Nicola Bisset. ‘Padraic Kierans has always treated Optimus as a partner, not a supplier, and has worked with our team to get the best out of the system. Most importantly, he has embraced all of the changes we have made to our MIS software down through the years and those changes have reflected the changing needs of his business. He has invested the time and money required to keep his system up-to-date and his business has reaped the benefit of that investment.
With the launch of Optimus Dash at Ipex last year it is clear that Optimus now has a solution for all sectors of the print industry, including specialist printing and wide format, as well as our traditional litho market. We have seen a strong response to this from all of our markets, including Ireland, and we will be focusing on delivering solutions to satisfy the diverse needs of the Irish market.’
Anglo Printers partnership with Optimus was developed further in 1998 when Padraic became the Irish representative on the Optimus user group committee. ‘We made recommendations to Optimus as to how the software might be further developed so it was always a two-way partnership with Optimus,’ says Padraic. ‘The most important part of any partnership with a software provider is the level of technical support that is available and theirs has always been first class. An Optimus consultant will sit down and map out what they can do to help you achieve what you need to achieve for your customers.’
Business Benefits
According to Padraic, one of the key benefits that Optimus software has brought to their business is organisation. ‘It brings a whole structure of organisation to any print business and facilitates quick and easy access to all the information that is required to run a business, including customer data such as job tickets, the value of orders, and the date of last orders received. The information is available at the touch of a button.
The MIS is the engine room of the business. The management team have access to the real time information that they require without having to refer to each other. The main objective of any MIS is to show the printer the type of work that is yielding revenue and the jobs that are not profitable for the business. At the end of each week or month we can focus on the production of jobs that haven’t worked out as planned and try and structure our sales team to focus on the jobs and customers that can deliver a profit. For Anglo Printers, the Optimus MIS software has allowed us to make informed management decisions about the type of work that we wish to pursue.’
Maximising Machine Output
Anglo Printers operates eight presses, both litho and digital, along with an array of finishing equipment. These include three B1 presses – a Komori LS540 and L440 and a Miller TP104 perfector, a Heidelberg Speedmaster 52 two-colour and Heidelberg TGO 52 single colour press, as well as four digital presses from Xerox – a Docucolor AP 5000, Docucolor 5252, Xerox 6180 with inline Bourg finishing, and a Xerox 4127 with inline finishing. On the finishing front, the company has two B1 MBO folders – a T700 and a Super KTL Combo – as well as some smaller Morgana folding, creasing, numbering, perforating and finishing equipment. They also operate a D&K Jupiter laminator, a B2 Heidelberg SB die cutter and a KAS Mailmaster 465 mailing machine with eight in-feeds for envelope insertion. On the stitching and trimming end, they have a Muller Martini 335 with four stations plus cover feeder, featuring a Cucciola stacker. ‘The MIS isn’t linked to any of our presses or finishing equipment but we have remote data collection terminals in all departments,’ says Padraic. ‘The operators feed in the activities and productivity on all of the equipment to these terminals which are linked back to the Optimus MIS.’
Future Partnerships
Anglo Printers are currently working with Optimus UK on the installation of their W2P Business to Business module which they hope to have installed by the end of this year. ‘This is for a client who wants to access a portal online whereby they can visualise jobs we have in production for them and check on individual product stock levels,’ says Padraic. ‘Our MIS would open up to them on the web in a personalised web portal. That is a growing request that we are receiving from clients. We have another client who is likely to proceed with this service in the New Year. As a print business you have to offer a W2P service to stay in the game and Optimus are partnering with us to ensure that we can offer this service to our customers.’
Anglo Printers Limited, Mell Industrial Estate, Upper Mell, Drogheda, Co. Louth
Tel:00 353 41 9835000 – Fax:00 353 41 9835541
Article Courtesy of Irish Printer magazine www.irishprinter.ie
Filed under: Ireland, Optimus Dash |
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