What do a six-year-old Boxer dog called Molly and a HP Indigo 3050 digital press have in common? Well, for a start, they both call Ripe Digital's Corsham print facility home.
The Wiltshire digital print plant isn't the largest you will ever set foot in, with just six full-time staff on the books, but size is not something its owners are overly concerned with.
The short-run printer has three directors. Two of which, Peter Hannen and Richard Penny, originally met working at a jobbing printer in the local area. "We were working there, but got disillusioned by the limitations of working for a family-owned business," says Hannen. "We wanted to work for ourselves."
The pair set up their own company and were offered the chance to take over the reprographics work from a local printers. Ripe became a reality.
The short-run printer specialises in the production of high-quality printed material for design and advertising agencies. It takes a hands-on, personal approach to business, a strategy that has seen the company grow steadily since its inception in 1995.
Despite seeing continuous years of growth, a visit to Drupa in 2004 took Ripe in a new direction. Selling the reprographics business, they recognised the future lay in digital print, and were impressed by the HP Indigo 3050.
"We saw the press and were really impressed by its ability to match the quality of litho. Too many so-called digital
presses produce work merely equivalent to that of colour photocopiers. We knew our existing blue-chip customers would appreciate what this press could offer and we had an opportunity to bring radical changes to what was available in the short-run market."
New home
Ripe moved into its current premises in the summer of 2006. Previously a run-down car workshop, a makeover left a glass-fronted office which is sleek, modern and more akin to what you would expect of a design agency.
"We pride ourselves in the service we offer to customers. We have never lost a customer through inadequate service. Deadlines are always met, even if it means working through the night. Customers are kept informed as to where we are in the production process. When jobs are dispatched, customers are sent tracking notifications they can follow," says Hannen.
Ripe also built its own MIS, which allows it to quote instantly - a customer will not wait longer than an hour to received their quote by email. It also means that everyone in the company is able to track the production process of each individual job.
The firm's offering is based on the Indigo press, an Epson 9800 large-format printer and a wealth of finishing kit that includes lamination, bookletmaking, folding and rounding equipment. Resident canine and unofficial guard dog Molly,
owned by Hannen, resides in the all-Mac repro offices.
Elsewhere, the company has been trying to push its variable data offering and is educating clients on the benefits to be had by using targeted, personalised prints.
"People are used to dealing with litho printers with people thinking in plates and ink," says Hannen. "It can be restrictive, but we're trying to give people a greater understanding by bringing them in and showing them what can be done. It's a different approach."
Having six full-time and two part-time employees, the company is unusual in that there is no obvious hierarchy. Everyone is expected to pitch in to all areas of production, be it quoting or finishing. It should be noted that the one role that has never needed filling is that of a sales rep. Strong service has meant that all Ripe's work has come in through repeat business and word of mouth.
"Once a customer has visited the office, we feel confident that they will want to work with us. We offer something unique in printing and we reflect the environment in which they work, so we find they are comfortable with us," says Hannen.
Hannen and his colleagues are also aware that the trend towards more targeted, short-run print combined with the current economic climate means that they should not be short of business in the future. "People want short-run, but with litho quality. This is what we do well," he says.
The company is now considering investment in a second Indigo, as long as Molly lets them. Hannen says it would boost capacity and turnover, without increasing levels of staffing or premises. "What we have is ideal for us," he adds. "We're flexible and we never want to lose that personal touch."
Ripe Digital Factfile
Established 1995
Staff Six full-time, two-part-time
Based Corsham, Wiltshire
Site 168m2
Turnover £750,000
Directors Peter Hannen, Richard Penny, Clive Humphries
Kit HP Indigo 3050 digital press, Epson 9800 wide-format printer, Morgana DigiFold, Watkiss Bookletmaker, Foliant laminator, Watkiss Lamibind
