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News, updates, and expert insights from DigiTech.

DigiTech started at the beginning of the digital audio revolution in 1984 and has gone on to pioneer many innovations in the music industry. Follow this channel for the latest from DigiTech: product news, expert perspectives, and updates from the team.

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Channel Brief·DigiTech · 26 episodes
Updated Apr 18, 2023

Service quality, not machine specs, drives printing industry loyalty

DigiTech argues that in a market obsessed with hardware performance, excellence in customer support and workflow solutions are the actual competitive advantage. The channel proves this through direct customer testimonials and case studies of real print shops.

DigiTech's thesis is that service excellence and automation-driven workflow solutions matter more than raw machine performance in winning and keeping printing customers. The channel proves this by recording unscripted customer calls, documenting year-long case studies of small shops adopting the TruFire printer, and featuring named operators who testify to how onboarding and support changed their business.

Drawn from DigiTech: Service in Review and 2 more

Quality is the cheapest thing you can do. High-quality every time, all the time.

Patric Coldewey, Founder and President, DigiTech

By the numbers

500-1000

boards per day Stokes Sign Company prints with TruFire

4.3M

workers quit jobs in January 2022

2-8 years

lifespan of TruFire print heads depending on usage

30 years

digital printing experience of DigiTech founder

What the channel argues

InsightDigiTech records unscripted customer calls to document what clients actually value about service, not product performance.
InsightPatriot Print Fulfillment saw measurable results within one week of adopting the TruFire printer.
DataTruFire print heads can last two to eight years depending on usage and maintenance discipline.
InsightSmaller printing companies can compete with larger firms by using automation and the right digital printing hardware.
InsightCOVID-era yard signage demand presented unexpected growth opportunities for printing companies hit by economic shutdown.

What you'll learn

Why customer testimonials from unscripted interviews are more credible proof of machine value than manufacturer claims.
How workflow automation and integrated software (Queue it up, TruPlot) solve the real bottleneck in print shops: managing short runs and on-demand jobs.
What print head lifespan actually depends on: usage patterns and maintenance, not just manufacturer specs.
How small, independent print shops used digital printing adoption to expand into adjacent verticals like embroidery and large format.

What to do about it

Audit your current printing vendor's onboarding and support process against DigiTech's model of hands-on training and non-mandatory service contracts.
Calculate your true cost per job including rework and scheduling delays before comparing flatbed printer prices on hardware alone.
Evaluate print and cut workflow automation (inline crease-cut systems) as a lever to handle the increasing demand for short-run and one-off production.

Who and what shows up

Patric Coldewey

Founder and President, DigiTech

Repeatedly advocates that quality and service, not price, drive customer loyalty and that automation solves labor scarcity, including direct quotes on print head lifespan and cost structure.

Brett Sutton

President, Patriot Print Fulfillment

Documented a one-year case study adopting TruFire, showing measurable results within one week and testifying to offering differentiated service to customers who need affordable solutions.

Tommy Trucks

Founder and CEO, SignMaster

Original customer who pushed DigiTech to build the TruFire printer; end-user testimony on how the machine solved real printing workflow problems.

John Parrott

President and third-generation owner, Parrott Printing

New customer testimonial praising DigiTech's onboarding depth and hands-on training to help his team maximize machine capability and workflow speed.

Mike Adams

President and CEO, Color Correct

Industry expert with 16 years of color-correction experience; stated that making new color profiles is more effective than re-linearizing to solve color problems.

Questions this channel answers

Q

How long do print heads actually last?

On DigiTech's TruFire printer, print heads can last two to eight years depending on usage and maintenance discipline. The print head is typically the most expensive component of a printer, so lifespan is sensitive to how often replacement becomes necessary.

How Long Do Print Heads Last?
Q

What makes a flatbed printer cheap, and is that a good deal?

A quality flatbed printer is the cheapest thing you can offer customers because it eliminates rework costs, maintains printing speed without sacrificing results, and improves overall workflow. Choosing a lower-cost machine to save capital often leads to higher total cost of ownership.

What Makes for a ‘Cheap’ Flatbed Printer?
Q

How do printing companies handle increasing demand for short runs and one-off jobs?

The right workflow software and inline automation allow operators to turn short runs of one to three sheets with the same efficiency as larger batches. DigiTech's Queue it up software and inline crease-cut systems address this by enabling fast job switching and customization.

Print Precision: The Workflow Challenges and Solutions i…
Q

How has automation helped printing companies adapt to labor shortages?

Automation addresses the Great Resignation and aging skilled workforce by reducing manual handling and enabling smaller companies to compete without larger payroll costs. In January 2022, 4.3 million workers quit their jobs, making automation a critical tool for print shop survival.

The Great Resignation, Automated Solutions to the Hiring…
Q

What role did unexpected demand play for printers during COVID?

Yard signage demand grew unexpectedly during the pandemic, presenting an opportunity for printing companies hit hard by the economic shutdown and loss of tradeshow business.

Going Yard—How COVID Changed the Landscape for Yard Sign…
Topics:UV flatbed printing (TruFire machine)Print and cut automation (TruCORR, TruPlot packages)Workflow software and job queuingColor management and profilingLabor shortage and hiring automation
Themes:Service excellence as competitive moatWorkflow automation solves labor scarcityQuality reduces total cost of ownership

Industry context

UV printing technology is gaining adoption partly due to labor efficiency gains. The UV LED printer market alone is projected to expand at 14.4% CAGR through 2033.

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