Justin Stowe
Editor’s Note: Justin Stowe has been promoted as the new Vice President of Sales at KIP. Stowe previously held the position of Southeastern Regional Sales Manager for KIP. He intends to drive new business opportunities starting with enhanced communications and visits to various customers within the wide format industry. In this interview with IRgA Managing Director Ed Avis, Stowe explains that his arrival coincides with the launch of an important new printer line.
Avis: Welcome to your new position. Have you been meeting KIP dealers since starting your new role?
Stowe: Absolutely. I recently traveled to the Northeast region to meet some of our partners there. I know most of the partners in the Southeast because of the many years I supported that region and have traveled to the Midwest to meet our partners there as well. I have future trips scheduled for the West Coast.
Avis: Other than traveling, what have you been up to?
Stowe: Right now, we're right in the midst of a product launch. We are introducing the new KIP 700 C Series.
Avis: Tell me about that.
Stowe: The 700 Series is a very exciting product for us. This is KIP's seventh generation KIP color toner base wide format technology. The 700 C Series will be available in 12 different configurations. And the state-of-the-art toner technology that we utilized in our 600 Series -- CCT technology – is at the heart of the 700 Series product line.
Avis: What is CCT technology?
Stowe: KIP Contact Control Technology CCT is the ability to control the placement of toner particles though direct contact at every stage of the imaging process. We had tremendous success with the 600 Series, so we wanted that CCT technology at the heart of the 700 Series product line.
Avis: So, what is different between the 700 Series and the 600 Series?
Stowe: The 700 Series is available in three versatile models with three production print speeds providing 12 different product configurations. With the 700 Series we now have low-volume print systems, mid-volume systems and high-demand systems. There also is an enhanced touchscreen, which is 15.6 inches. There is an improved top stacker, new System K 3.1 software platform and windows IOT Enterprise Operating System. The 700 Series can also have a rear stacker partnered with it.
Some key features of the 700 Series that also exist with the 600 are the ability to combine monochrome and color printing, the ability to print on an array of different media, and the full suite of System K software, including KIP ImagePro. A windows driver and web-based applications are also included. Another key feature is the capability to print in single-pass black, which means when printing in monochrome, we disengage cyan, yellow, and magenta and only use black toner when printing in monochrome.
Avis: Do you envision people using the 700 to print CAD drawings with color in them or are they printing signage?
Stowe: We do a lot of work with CAD and GIS drawings, but we do have quite a few of our customers that use our systems for graphics and business level photographs. However, the main application is the CAD printing in monochrome and in color.
Avis: Will the 700 Series be in reprographic shops or in end user businesses or a combination?
Stowe: I would say a combination of both. We do believe that reprographic shops will take advantage of the toner-based color systems. But we also believe the 700 Series will be utilized in an array of different industries, specifically with the architects, engineers, construction, manufacturing, and government agencies.
Avis: And when will the 700 Series be available?
Stowe: It will be available for shipment in July of 2023.
Avis: How can people learn more about the 700 Series?
Stowe: We’ll be holding a webinar for IRgA reprographics shop members on July 18 at 10 a.m. Central. They’ll see a live demonstration on the KIP 700 C Series and can ask questions. We’ll show all the different configurations and print speeds. I think members will find it to be very educational and beneficial. Please use this link to register for the upcoming live virtual product demonstration.
Avis: Great! I’m looking forward to it. Thank you for your time.
Stowe: You are very welcome. We look forward to hosting you and the IRgA members on the live webinar on July 18that 10:00am Central Time. Thank you for your support over many years.