FlexTG Transforms Print Operations for Major Southern California Water Authority
The Challenge: Inconsistent Color, Limited Capability, and Insufficient Vendor Support
When a major Southern California water authority engaged FlexTG more than three years ago, its in-house print operations were under strain. As one of the region’s largest public utilities, the organization relies on its internal print center to support mission-critical communications, including quarterly outreach materials distributed to stakeholders across Southern California.
Legacy Xerox equipment failed to meet required color standards, particularly for the authority’s signature blue-purple branding. Output varied between runs, paper profiling was not implemented, and vendor expertise was largely unavailable when issues escalated.
These shortcomings extended beyond color accuracy. Frequent equipment downtime, constrained finishing capability, and inconsistent service support limited productivity and increased reliance on outsourced printing, impacting both timelines and internal confidence.
The FlexTG Solution: Advanced Color Management and Integrated Production
FlexTG structured the engagement around a detailed evaluation of production workflows, color requirements, and operational constraints. The initiative began with a comprehensive assessment of the authority’s production environment and a strategy designed to deliver long-term performance, reliability, and efficiency.
FlexTG first implemented a modernized print center anchored by a Ricoh Pro 7210 with a fifth color station for expanded gamut control, paired with a Canon imagePRESS C10010 for high-volume color production. Advanced inline finishing capabilities were deployed to support saddle stitching, folding, and full-bleed booklet production, along with specialized folding and envelope printing equipment to enable true end-to-end, in-house output.
Equally important was the implementation of a complete color management workflow. FlexTG introduced spectrophotometer-based calibration, paper profiling, and Fiery-driven spot color control to ensure accurate, repeatable color matching to established brand standards. Operator training and ongoing specialist support addressed the knowledge gap that had previously limited performance, ensuring consistency well beyond installation.
Enterprise-Wide Expansion
The success of the print center transformation led directly to a broader partnership. Based on proven performance and service consistency, the authority granted FlexTG an enterprise-wide fleet refresh encompassing more than 170 multifunction color devices across nine locations throughout Southern California.
This initiative fully replaced legacy equipment, standardized production operations on Ricoh platforms, and deployed Sharp multifunction devices across lower-volume office environments. The engagement represented a multi-million-dollar contract and established FlexTG as the organization’s strategic print partner.
Results: Measurable Improvements Across Operations
The partnership has delivered measurable, sustained improvements across the organization:
- Color Consistency: Brand-critical materials now maintain precise color accuracy across every production run
- Operational Efficiency: Advanced inline finishing enables complex booklet production with minimal manual intervention
- Cost Reduction: Significant decrease in outsourced print volume
- Reliability: Improved uptime and predictable, on-demand production
- Knowledge Transfer: Internal staff now operate with a strong understanding of color calibration and profiling
A Public-Sector Model for Success
Today, this Southern California water authority serves as a reference account for FlexTG, regularly hosting site visits for other government agencies and public utilities. Their willingness to showcase their operation reflects the strength of the partnership and the value delivered through consistent service, technical expertise, and long-term engagement.
For public-sector organizations where reliability, accountability, and quality are non-negotiable, this engagement demonstrates the measurable advantage of selecting a partner based on expertise rather than lowest initial cost. FlexTG continues to support the authority as a strategic partner, providing the technical leadership and service required for mission-critical print environments.