Contributed by Lou Ventigan
U-Bix Corporation, the country’s pioneer and leader in providing one-stop solutions for the office and production printing industry, announces plans to introduce 3D printing by the second half of 2014.
“Nowadays, the fast-changing digital and networked world offers tremendous potential, and U-Bix is well-positioned to continue leading the market change,” said Atty. Edilberto Bravo, U-Bix founder, chairman and CEO, during the company’s 40th anniversary celebration at Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City.
“Our plans for this year is to expand the range of equipment that we have as well as the the range of services that we offer, in addition to that, we will be introducing at least two new technologies in the country, one is the introduction of 3D printing. The reason for this is the 3D technology is the next step after 2D copying. This technology will cover a lot of application from architecture where you do 3D scaling images from building, landscapes and golf courses to medicine and dentistry where you can do 3d replication of dentures before you finally order them for fitting, for the patients. Also in schools with the advent of laptops and digital devices many students can now learn how to manufacture or creates 3D ,this is the new technology that we will definitely embrace and introduce to the public this year.
We are also heavily investing in amateur photography. Our dye sublimation process will allow us to print your pictures and photographs can be taken either in Bluetooth or with wire connection and print images in 8 to 15 seconds depending on the size, 6 x4 is printed in 8 seconds, 8 x10 to 8 x12 can be printed to 15 to 16 seconds, these are among technologies that will be adding to our current basket of products.
Bravo said the 3D printer alone could cost a $1-million and they are targeting the month of July to launch the 3D printing service.
Bravo then recapped the innovations that U-Bix pioneered since its earliest days. “We started operations in 1974 by launching the first plain paper copier, which made ubiquitous carbon copies obsolete. We followed through with color copiers which made documents more effective communication tools. Our portfolio includes Risograph machines that relegated mimeographed copies to relics of the past. We brought technology innovations that have greatly increased quality, functionality and flexibility in office copying and printing.”
In 2007, U-Bix acquired Kodak Philippines’ Kodak Imaging Center operation. Rebranded as the U-Bix Imaging Center (UIC), the new division focuses on end-to-end conversion, digitization and management of documents. At the opening of its products and services exhibit, U-Bix general manager Eduardo Reyes noted how the company integrates and adds value to a document throughout and beyond its life-cycle. “Aside from printing and copying documents, we now convert them digitally to make them easily searchable and retrievable, and store them safely both physically and virtually.” The company expects UIC to be a source of significant growth in the future, particularly as businesses and the government place high priority on digitally imaging records and data.
For U-Bix, the future looks bright. While the company still leads the market with its core business of copiers, it has expanded into multi-functional peripherals and production printing equipment. It has also extended into related niches like office furniture and facilities management services.
Recognizing superior customer service as its unique strength, Atty. Bravo recalled how U-Bix was the first to make the remarkable promise that its service engineers would respond to customer calls in 2 hours or less. It continues to make good on that promise 35 years later, and is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Thanking longtime business partners Konica Minolta, Okamura, Riso Kagaku, ServiceMaster and Aramark, Bravo remarked that “our partners’ world-class products and our superior customer service make for an ideal fit. This drove U-Bix’s growth over the past four decades.”
Reflecting on U-Bix’s 40th anniversary milestone, Atty. Bravo said “I like to think of our company as 40 years young, and only just beginning. As I look to the future, I’m confident that the best is yet to come.”
