IES launched in 1995 as a fulfillment and finishing company. After 16 years in business, they expanded into wide-format digital printing, which now makes up 80 percent of their business. Once they jumped into wide format, IES quickly grew from a 10-person shop in 2012 to 37 employees in a 40,000-square-foot facility today. A typical patron is a retailer seeking P-O-P signage, but they also complete vehicle wraps, print displays for events, and more, says Scott Schweitzer, general manager.
The Nashville-based company seeks to simplify a client’s project by taking care of every step, from design to print to shipping. They even offer warehouse space if a tradeshow client, for example, wants to store their booth graphics between events. With an eye toward creating a seamless customer experience, IES handles everything in-house, which gives them the flexibility to meet a buyer’s timeline. “By handling all aspects, we control the whole experience,” Schweitzer adds.
A challenge in the wide-format business? “It seems the only constant in equipment for wide format is that it’s constantly changing. A press can become outdated within four to five years. We always want to be on the cutting edge of technology, which requires constant changes to not only the equipment, but also to software and continued training for our employees,” Schweitzer explains.
Workflow is run through EFI Pace MIS software, as well as preflight software and CAD software. Like many PSPs, typical bottlenecks happen in finishing, which is why IES is adding a third cutter and a second shift to keep up with demand.