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Danwood and EFI Take-Away Event

Danwood and EFI invited APCOM Members to a unique take-away event on the future of print technology, specifically for public sector and further education print service managers.

Links to presentations:

http://efi.danwood-support.co.uk/dwefi.wmv

http://efi.danwood-support.co.uk/Danwood MIS.pdf

http://efi.danwood-support.co.uk/EFI_Danwood_APCOM_Final_PPT.pdf

http://efi.danwood-support.co.uk/Microsoft PowerPoint - Danwood_Keynote.pdf

It may have been 18 months since the idea was first mooted, with the event having to be cancelled sadly at the last minute, but finally the EFI Fiery networking event that took place at the Marston Farm Hotel in the West Midlands, in my opinion could only be described as a huge success.

On the night before the event, there was an informal networking dinner where APCOM members were able to talk shop with their fellow members, as well as the ever friendly Danwood staff and key representatives of EFI Fiery who had travelled from not only UK sites, but also the USA, Germany and Holland.

Some twenty five delegates, mainly from APCOM, as well as The University Print Managers group (UPMG), Further Education Reprographics Forum and the Central Government Print Managers Group, convened bright and early on Wednesday morning to split into two specific workgroups. The key themes were ‘Business Development Through Managing Information’ and ‘Automating Production’. The Managing Information session gave EFI an opportunity to demonstrate and share key information around their new management information system called ‘PACE’, EFI Pace is an integrated, browser-based print management system for the printing and reprographics industry. The advanced software suite includes Estimating, Production Management, Dynamic Scheduling, Inventory, Purchasing, Data Collection, Integrated Accounting, delivery, Variable Data and eCommerce solution modules. Certainly the group of which I was a member gave some detailed feedback and made some valid comments that ere eagerly noted by the EFI and Danwood representatives. Meanwhile the second group were being briefed on the new automated production tools now available for EFI clients. The brand new production software suite ‘VUE’ was demonstrated in detail and delegates were shown a demonstration film. Afterwards, they were presented with their own copy of ‘VUE’. This one feature alone has already made a huge difference to the way we at North East Lincolnshire produce digital print when presented with publications that have been created in the Microsoft Office suite. Without a doubt there was so much more to the day’s overall benefit, but this insight to VUE alone was worth the journey for us.

The lunch break gave everyone an opportunity to regroup and compare notes, though this break took a different tack when the APCOM trainee of the year Frazer Kirkwood gave us a detailed and insightful presentation of his trip to Las Vegas. APCOM members should be more than aware that as winner of the coveted trainee of the year award for 2009, Frazer was accompanied to Las Vegas by Len McIntosh of Danwood on an all expenses paid trip to the EFI Connect event in August. Fun and frolics aside, Frazer was keen to explain how wonderful the trip was not just a personal level, but from a professional perspective, the ‘EFI Connect’ event has without a doubt made a lasting impression on someone who is very passionate about his trade.

After our buffet lunch the groups swapped roles and worked through the afternoon
until we all met up again to recap and assess the key benefits of the day. Charles Lissenburg, Vice President Worldwide OEM Sales for EFI and Anthony Evans of
APCOM thanked the delegates for what was without doubt a unique and very special insight in to the very heart of what drives EFI on to bigger and better things.

It is testament to Danwood’s dedication, drive, commitment and willingness to make it happen that made this event the success that it was. Lesser organisations would maybe have walked away having put so much effort into the original cancelled event, but Danwood to their credit, ensured a fiery phoenix arose from the ashes to engage everyone with what was a very special day indeed.

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