Customer Success Story
How Liberty University Brought Envelope Production Back In-House with the FireJet
Liberty University increased envelope production capacity, improved turnaround times, reduced outsourcing costs, and expanded creative mailing capabilities for university print operations.
At a Glance
Liberty University needed a faster, more scalable way to produce high-volume and specialty envelope projects. By implementing the Kirk-Rudy FireJet, the university brought outsourced envelope work back in-house while giving its Marketing Department more speed, control, and creative flexibility.
The Challenge
Before implementing the FireJet, Liberty University relied on a single outside source for printed envelopes. This created scheduling challenges, turnaround delays, and limitations around variable data printing.
Every outsourced order also required Procurement approval, adding another step that slowed the process. Liberty’s previous in-house envelope printer was limited to less than 5,000 envelopes per hour and could not produce edge-to-edge printing.
The Solution
Liberty University implemented the FireJet to bring high-volume envelope production back in-house. The system gave their print operation the speed, print quality, and production flexibility needed to support growing demand across university communications.
- Shifted outsourced envelope production to internal operations
- Expanded full-color envelope capabilities
- Improved turnaround times
- Reduced dependency on outside vendors
- Enabled full-bleed printing on both sides
The Results
The FireJet gave Liberty University measurable savings, higher throughput, and the ability to complete larger envelope projects internally.
$40KOutsourced envelope work brought back into Liberty University’s own print operation.
18,000/hrEnvelopes produced per hour on average coverage applications.
100,000+Envelopes recently produced in-house for a single project.
With the FireJet, jobs exceeding 30,000 pieces can now be completed within hours rather than days. Heavy full-bleed applications still achieve approximately 10,000 envelopes per hour, more than double the capabilities of Liberty’s previous in-house equipment.
Expanded Marketing Capabilities
Beyond cost savings, the FireJet has enabled Liberty University’s Marketing Department to expand both residential and online recruitment mailings. The ability to produce full-color, full-bleed envelopes on both sides has opened creative opportunities that were not achievable in the past.
One recurring monthly mailer of approximately 10,000 pieces now uses a 6×9.5 window envelope with full-color bleeds on the front and back. This level of speed, control, and creative flexibility has allowed Liberty to respond more effectively when departments submit artwork close to deadlines.
Support and Service
Liberty University also noted strong support throughout implementation and daily operation. As with any new technology, there were training needs and adjustments along the way, especially during staffing changes.
Technical support remained responsive, often resolving issues remotely over the phone. When onsite service was required, response times were typically within two business days.
Why Liberty Chose the FireJet
Liberty University evaluated another envelope printing option during the purchasing process. While that system improved print quality compared to previous equipment, it did not offer the same production speed, industrial build quality, or long-term scalability as the FireJet.
Ultimately, Liberty chose the FireJet because its productivity, standalone production design, scalability, and long-term return on investment provided the strongest path forward.
“The FireJet has allowed the Print Shop at Liberty University to dramatically increase our envelope production capabilities, improve KPI performance, and bring significant outsourced work back in-house. It has given our Marketing Department the ability to create impactful specialty mailings for prospective students, Athletics, Alumni, and Development campaigns while improving turnaround times and maintaining greater control over quality and delivery.”
Tim Baldree, Assistant Director of Digital Print, Liberty University
Looking Ahead
The FireJet has positioned Liberty University for continued growth in print and mail production. With expanded capacity, faster turnaround times, improved workflow control, and the ability to explore future specialty applications, Liberty now has a scalable platform that supports the evolving communication needs of the university.
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