UXBRIDGE -- TPF Group has made its first significant move into the digital production arena with the launch of a new division focused on digital print and ticketing. TPF Digital will be based at TPF's 30,000 sq. ft Brentford site - opened in February this year - and will be fully operational by the end of this month.

TPF Digital will be jointly headed up by Kevin Leary and Andrew Naden - Production Director and Technical Director respectively - both formerly with PIMS. Between them Kevin and Andrew have more than 30 years experience in the print industry, much of it gained in the fast-growing digital sphere. They have already recruited an initial team of 15 people, and they expect to spend around 1.5m on the new operation over the next 12 months, which will include the highest specification digital presses, IT resources and finishing equipment.

TPF Digital will be a 24/7 (24/5 initially) operation offering clients the highest level of personalisation. With IT now driving the digital print market to the next level, TPF will offer solutions and concepts to customers which will help them to grow their businesses through the implementation of exciting new digital print technologies.

TPF Digital's service offering will include:
  • Immediate turnaround.

  • Precise quantities printed on demand.

  • Short run colour.

  • Personalised, customised content.

  • Value-added services (fulfilment, database management).

  • Online submission of print jobs and other web based services.
TPF CEO Steve Brundle said: "TPF's proposition will be even more attractive to clients, following the establishment of our dedicated new digital division. It's no secret that we've been looking to make a major move into digital and it was really just a question of when and how. In Kevin and Andrew we've got a highly experienced management team, and we're going to give them all the technological firepower they need to make TPF Digital a serious player in this market. With this important ingredient now in place, our all round client offering really is very hard to match.

"I confidently expect digital to be a massive growth area for TPF, and we'll be reflecting this in our investment programme over the next few years."

At the heart of the operation will be a new Xerox iGen3 - the industry-leading digital press geared to short runs and fast turn-around - which will be installed within the next 14 days on a five year lease arrangement. The iGen3 has automatic make-ready and collation, the ability to mix stocks within a run, and built-in colour intelligence. Every page produced by the iGen3 can be customised and personalised with colour and mono combined, producing documents including print on demand catalogues, brochures, direct mail, inserts and flyers. A second iGen3 is expected to be added within a matter of months.

Peter Taylor, Director and General Manager Xerox UK Graphic Arts said: "TPF is a company that is really going places and we see the iGen3 deal as being just the start of a very long and successful relationship. TPF's major move into the digital space is yet another indication that this is arguably the most significant trend in the print market at present. We fully expect this trend to continue much further, and faster, over the coming years."

TPF will also be investing up to 150,000 in an array of leading edge finishing kit, although the sourcing of this has yet to be finalised.

About Xerox Europe
Xerox markets a comprehensive range of Xerox products, solutions and services, as well as associated supplies and software. Its offerings are focused on three main areas: offices from small to large, production print and graphic arts environments, and services that include consulting, systems design and management, and document outsourcing.

Xerox supports The New Business Of Printing strategy by providing the largest portfolio of state-of-the-art digital products, solutions and services in the industry, integrated streamlined and efficient workflow solutions and a suite of business development tools that help customers to achieve sustained long-term growth. In the changing world of print, these three elements enable customers to improve business performance and productivity to ensure they uncover more ways to profit.

Xerox Graphic Arts Premier Partners is a Xerox-sponsored, global community of leading-edge graphic arts service providers. Xerox provides tools, resources, and knowledge to its members to grow their revenues and profits, develop their capabilities and to further expand their businesses.

By working with Premier Partners, customers are assured of high quality print services from best-of-breed companies equipped with the latest technology.

For more information on the Xerox Premier Partner network, please visit www.xerox.com/xpp.

Xerox is a trademark of Xerox Corporation. All non-Xerox brands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Media Contacts
David Millican, Xerox UK, tel: +44 (0) 1895 843 196,
email: david.millican@xerox.com

Kinross + Render (on behalf of Xerox),
Tony Brown / Artur Kwiatkowski, tel: +44 (0) 20 7592 3100,
email: tb@kinrossrender.com/ ak@kinrossrender.com