Certification For Printers - which ones to get and why

How do you establish trust with your clients when there is less in-person interaction? Certifications Certificates are a great way for printers to showcase their competence while streamlining operations.

Today, printers face very strong competition.  An increased number of customers now contact printers online instead of making direct contact, either face to face or by telephone. Without meeting and communication in-person, it can become increasingly difficult to build relationships and gain trust with your clients. Having internationally recognized certificates can help with building the right relationships.

Getting certified can be very time-consuming and expensive. Every printer needs to carefully choose the correct certificates that are essential and manageable for their businesses. In this article, we are looking into the most important standards for printers:

• ISO Standards
• FOGRA certifications
• Environmental Standards
• Consumer Service labels

Important ISO Certifications for Printers

• ISO 9001 certifies that a Quality Management System is in place
• ISO 14001 makes sure a conclusive Environmental Management System is followed

FOGRA Standards: Maintaining Print Quality

ProcessStandard Digital (PSD) is well established in the digital printing industry. It comprises recommendations and instructions for actions and target values and tolerances for the digital print production. The PSD was compiled by FOGRA – the German Institute for Print Quality Control – in cooperation with national and international printing associations, manufacturers, and users.

Certificates from FOGRA confirm that a printer can produce prints in accordance with the ISO 12647 series of standards. This gives printers an important competitive advantage, as their potential customers can be confident that they will receive high-quality prints.

FOGRA also offers a service called PSD Colour Data, which enables printers to automate the colour accuracy verification of a print job. This is done by comparing the colours in the print job to those in the Fogra Media Wedge. This digital workflow saves time, costs, and manual steps. PSD Colour Data is a valuable tool for printers who want to demonstrate to their print buyers and brands that they are committed to maintaining the highest standards of print quality.

FOGRA also offers certifications for users, e.g. the Digital Print Professional qualification. The online course allows them to prove their competence and know-how in colour management and digital printing. There is an exam that is required to be taken and once this has been passed, they will receive a certificate which is valid for two years.
CAPTION: FOGRA offers a large system of interconnected certificates for the printing industry. Foto: Screenshot from https://youtu.be/44Dto5d9SeY.

Environmental Certifications are Becoming More Important for Printers

Consumer Service Standards (not only for) for WEb2 Print

Should Print Service invest in Certificates for their Business?

As face-to-face interaction between clients and printers become even less frequent. In the future , especially when ordering standard applications, certifications prove a great way to establish trust between new business partners.

When choosing which certifications to pursue, it’s important to consider the cost-benefit analysis for your specific business. What do potential clients look for when vetting a printer? Which certifications will set you apart from your competition? By answering these questions, you can streamline your operations and improve your bottom line.