John Beard Jr. and John Beard Sr. are pictured with Versafire.
Kennesaw, Ga. – “Whatever It Takes” has been the company motto of G2 Graphic Services since its doors opened in 1969. John Beard began selling film to production companies in North Hollywood, CA. This is when the now full-service, commercial and packaging printer was born. Beard, who knew that the business needed to change as the industry began to digitize in the 1990s, decided to buy its first printing press in 1999. This marked the beginning of the company’s existence as a print company. G2, now run by son John Beard, Jr., is still committed to doing “whatever it takes” to meet his customers’ demands – no matter how quick the turnaround. G2 needed to expand its capacity in order to meet the increase in business that followed COVID. They recently purchased two Versafire Ep digital presses.
While G2 still serves the movie and entertainment industries, the company’s customer base has grown over the years to include recording studios, casinos and gaming, travel and entertainment and health and cosmetic companies. COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on many industries. G2 was left to deal with the turmoil of these years. “We were lucky the business survived,” said John Beard, Jr., President of G2. “We’re fortunate we made it to the other side, and our sales are now back to pre-COVID levels.” Just as its business started to recover, the company began to encounter new challenges finding the right materials to meet its customers’ requests due to the paper supply shortage. “Our digital press required approved media that had to be pre-treated,” said Beard. “It was very difficult finding what we needed to serve our customers whose business was also just starting to come back.” Needing a more versatile solution, G2 decided to install a Versafire EP from HEIDELBERG, which accepts virtually any stock from 35 lb. Text up to 24 pt. board, including synthetics. “I like that we can pull material off our offset press if needed, cut it down, and load it directly onto our Versafire,” said Beard.
Knowing he needed two Versafires to accommodate all of G2’s workload, Beard, although a long-time HEIDELBERG supporter, was not completely sure the Versafire could handle some of its complex, long run variable data direct mailings, which can sometimes run upwards of 60,000 sheets. HEIDELBERG, confident in the machine’s abilities, allowed G2 to try the Versafire “risk free” – meaning the company was able to put the Versafire EP on its production floor for 90 days and if not completely satisfied with the machine, HEIDELBERG would remove the Versafire and refund G2 its costs. G2 was so impressed with the quality, flexibility, and reliability of the machine that it installed its second Versafire EP just four months after the first. “We couldn’t be happier,” said Beard. “We can now take some of our longer variable data jobs and split them between the two machines and be assured the color and quality will match.”
The company can now print a variety hybrid print jobs, as it is no longer limited by substrate specifications, between its Speedmaster CD 102, and Versafire EP. According to Beard, “We can run 150,000 four-color postcards on the press, cut them down, and run all of the backs with variable data on the Versafire. The flexibility is great.” Additionally, G2 is using the Versafire EPs to run a variety of synthetic materials for security badges for film premieres throughout the country and for menus used at the many restaurants in Universal Studios, which is located only a short distance from G2’s office.
“Our very first press was HEIDELBERG. Trying HEIDELBERG digital was just a natural evolution of our twenty-five-year relationship with them,” said Beard. G2, which also owns a POLAR cutler and Stahlfolder has never regretted its purchase of Versafire. According to Beard, “HEIDELBERG is always there to respond and provide quick solutions. It’s a true partnership.”
