Aura Print has selected Ricoh UK to be its new digital printing and press supplier, and will be installing a Ricoh Pro C7200X in their Huddersfield commercial printer this month.
Looking to bolster its digital print capabilities and get a head-start on familiarising itself with the Ricoh technology, while awaiting delivery of the Pro C7200X, Aura Print identified an opportunity to purchase a second-hand Ricoh printer – a Pro C9200 – from a company in Devon closing its doors.
Ricoh was on hand throughout the process to oversee the de-commissioning, transportation, and installation of the press at its new home on Aura’s Huddersfield site within 24 hours.
The future of our partnership with Aura Print is very exciting. The company is in the middle of bold growth plans, having successfully expanded into the US and Canada.
Tanya Howe, Sales Director, Ricoh Graphic Communications Group, said: “We pride ourselves on finding the most sustainable solutions for our customers, both new and existing. It’s really important to us that we build relationships with our customers – whether buying new or refurbished – and go that extra mile to provide best in class support and advice.”
Liam Smith, Director of Aura Print, commented: “From a sustainability point of view, we really like the fact that we’ve been able to purchase a well-maintained second-hand machine with almost all the parts are recycled. Right from the start of this process, Ricoh has provided an outstanding level of service across all aspects of the purchase and installation process. The press has had an immediate impact on our ability to meet SLAs of clients.”
The C9200 engine offers great productivity as a workhorse print system capable of printing up to 135 full colour pages per minute, as well as a wide range of media options. However, Aura Print’s decision to invest in Ricoh’s Pro C7200X system points to a different set of priorities for the company going forward – one it hopes will see it stand out from the crowd. The C7200X has a fifth colour station enabling white neons and metallic toners as well as UV security inks to be laid down as well as CMYK. Aura Print will be applying this capability across its extensive product range, which includes flyers, tags, wedding stationery and commercial print products such as brochures, posters and corporate stationery.
Liam Smith, Director of Aura Print, added: “Our business is centred around value add. We look to offer more paper types, more creative and finishing options, than any print company. Lots of online printers sell the same things – business cards and flyers, for example – on the same paper weights for efficiency reasons, but they must compete on price. We don’t want to compete on price – we want to give customers something amazing.”
In support of this ethos, Aura Print has conducted research into attitudes towards buying business cards and says this revealed 56% of buyers are happy to upgrade to a more luxurious, premium finish from the industry-standard 350gsm paper stock, when given the option. Aura Print’s own sales figures show this trend is taking place, with a 22% year-on-year increase in customers choosing enhanced creative treatments for their business cards. For example, a quarter of all the business cards it produces include a metallic foil finish, with more than half of customers surveyed agreeing that this kind of standout will make the card more likely to be kept by the recipient.
Tanya Howe, Sales Director, Ricoh Graphic Communications Group, added: “The future of our partnership with Aura Print is very exciting. The company is in the middle of bold growth plans, having successfully expanded into the US and Canada. We know from our discussions with the team that the next step is to expand further by targeting designers and agencies on the one hand, and trade resellers on the other. These segments require a profoundly different approach, with the agency/designer market needing education about creative possibilities, and trade partners valuing the chance to tap into a more diverse and creative product range without themselves needing to invest in the technology. In tackling both of these market sectors for growth, Aura Print can count on both the technology and the business development expertise from Ricoh, we are here to help.”
About Aura Print
Aura Print is a rapidly growing, independent, specialist digital printer based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire with a team of 15. Founded in 2007, Aura Print provides a range of printing services for numerous market segments often working hand in hand with independent brands, design studios, entrepreneurs, and SMEs.
The team specialise in luxury printed items such as business cards, invitations, hang tags and more with unique finishes and paper options that other printers don’t offer. With turnover in excess of £1.4M Aura Print aims to build upon its success by offering even more customisation options for customers and differentiate their business model from other commercial printers.
For media relations contact:
Liam Smith – Director – [email protected]
For further information, please visit: https://aura-print.com/
About Ricoh
Ricoh is empowering digital workplaces using innovative technologies and services that enable individuals to work smarter from anywhere.
With cultivated knowledge and organizational capabilities nurtured over its 85-year history, Ricoh is a leading provider of digital services, information management, and print and imaging solutions designed to support digital transformation and optimize business performance.
Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh Group has major operations throughout the world and its products and services now reach customers in approximately 200 countries and regions. In the financial year ended March 2022, Ricoh Group had worldwide sales of 1,758 billion yen (approx. 14.5 billion USD).
For further information, please visit www.ricoh.co.uk
