As the market leader in the Czech Republic when it comes to producing forms, Optys broadened its horizons a decade ago to break into mailshot and security printing – two business segments that have become increasingly significant in recent years. It was for this reason that the company, founded in 1992 and employing a team of 400, opened a completely new production facility a few months ago, located in the countryside around 15 kilometers from the company headquarters in Opava. At the same time, it also put a new, nine-color Concepta into operation to accompany a Pronto in Opava and a Concept at the branch in Prague. The new addition is the third Muller Martini web offset printing press being operated by the company. As this was the 100th machine of this type to be commissioned – a successor model to the established Concept system launched at drupa 2004 – Optys and Muller Martini decided to mark the occasion by hosting a joint open house event.

The 80 visitors to the open house event at Optys were visibly impressed by the numerous application options offered by the Concepta in terms of mailshot and security printing.

Demonstrations and Specialist Presentations
The 80 visitors to the event were able to enjoy two live demonstrations – the production of a voucher boasting a range of security features such as iridescent printing, fluorescent ink and thermochromic and UV-fluorescent ink, as well as a five-color mailshot featuring spot varnish and integrated card. The demos, which were shown on a big screen at the start of the event, were met with a great deal of interest from visitors, as were the two specialist presentations given by Dr. Andreas Hitzler, Head of Marketing and Sales at Muller Martini Printing Presses GmbH, on the subject of mailshot and security printing.

“Since these business segments are new to our printing house, I came to this open house event with great expectations,” says Tomáš Smička, CEO of Aledeto in Krnov (Czech Republic). “My expectations were satisfied; I was extremely impressed. Lubos Kunze, the Managing Director of Muller Martini in the Czech Republic, had already told me a great deal about the Concepta system. But now I have had the opportunity to see the machine in use live for the first time, and I was struck by the wide range of application options the machine has to offer.”

Vasile Tirsolea, owner of Elixir Press in the Romanian capital Bucharest, is also toying with the idea of printing mailshots, security documents and flexible packaging in future. “That is why I visited the Muller Martini Training Center in Maulburg recently, where we conducted mailshot tests using a number of products. During the open house event at Optys, I was particularly interested in the topic of security printing, as I had never seen this form of printing before.”

“Important for Future New Investments”
Also among the 80 visitors to the event were representatives from a number of printing houses across Europe which already have many years' experience with web offset printing for general applications, as well as for mailshot and security printing; these printing houses also appear to favor solutions from Muller Martini: Folker Neetzow was representing mailshot specialists Koopmandruck based in Stuhr near Bremen (Germany), a company that boasts five Muller Martini printing presses, including a Concepta. “The opportunity to see security printing happening under real conditions and to experience at first hand what you can achieve with this form of printing made it worth the journey from Northern Germany to the Czech Republic.” The two sample products produced in demonstrations at the Optys open house event were actually very similar to the products that Koopmanndruck manufactures. “However, it is always important for us to keep an eye on potential developments within these business segments to find out what we might need to consider for future new investments – I'm thinking of the configuration of printing presses in particular,” Neetzow adds.

Franz Kutil, Head of Printing at Dataform Print in Grossebersdorf (Austria), where four printing presses from Muller Martini are in operation, was also very much agreed that the long journey east to the Czech Republic was worthwhile. “Obviously, our companies are active players in the same industry, so that's why I know quite a lot already. But it is always an experience to see the latest machines in action under real conditions at a customer's premises. This open house event also gave me the opportunity to witness a debut, as this was the first time I have seen the Concepta live.”

“A Cool Printing Press”
René Meyer, Sales Manager at Baumer AG in Islikon (Switzerland), also seemed to be quite familiar with the technology. “But it's always exciting to take a look around another company's premises.” He too wanted to see the Concepta in action at a customer's premises and summed up the system as “a cool printing press that impressed me with its wide range of options for security printing and short set-up times.” René Meyer also admitted that he was able to take away much more from the open house event than he would from a trade fair. “Plus, an international open house event is twice as interesting because you get to talk shop with professional colleagues from around the world.”

Given the satisfaction of his guests, it is no wonder that the host Jan Vicha, founder, co-owner and CEO of Optys, was exceptionally positive about the event at the company's new production facility. “I was delighted with the interest in the two demo production runs shown by the visitors to our well-supported open house event. And, of course, I was equally pleased that we were able to network and build up contacts with a number of potential new customers.”

Find here more impressions.