I recently returned from a trip to Belgium and the headquarters of Agfa Graphics, where it had run a two-day event for UK customers showcasing its new Anapurna H1650i LED in addition to what they describe as the company’s ‘complete cycle’ approach. What this means is that they have poured a tremendous amount of resources into understanding exactly what it is that print-service-providers need to maintain a very high level of competitiveness and profitability in a market that is now mature and ferociously contested.
I have been on a fair few press junkets over the years to see new technology, or to be enlightened as to the strategic direction of a manufacturer. It is rare though that you get the sense that said manufacturer is getting everything right for the current market conditions and their direction of travel. There is always a piece of technology that has missed the mark and sits forlorn in a corner hoping someone will look its way, or a presentation that is wildly optimistic about the prospects of the company in question. Sometimes the technology is way too far ahead of the curve, and sometimes it is just a ‘me too’ product.
In this case, however, I can quite honestly and candidly state that Agfa has its feet very firmly on the ground. Its ambition is impressive, but it is founded on a set of products and services that are all a perfect fit for the segment they are aimed at. Whether it is the new dinky H1650i, which is possibly the cutest wide-format printer I have ever seen (I know I am an uber geek), or the gargantuan Jeti Tauro for industrial levels of production.
You can read my initial report on p36, but a human observation I would make is the attendees I chatted to were all genuinely enthusiastic about seeing technology that fitted their needs for creative flexibility, build quality, productivity, and ‘whole life’ cost-effectiveness. Indeed, in a world that seems to be going increasingly mad, it was rewarding to see human endeavour, a real passion for a brand, and forensic attention to the small details all paying off.