Online Purchase Milestone
By Lisa Cross -- graphic arts online, 3/1/2007
MAN Roland's online ordering Website (www.manrolanddirect.com) for pressroom parts and consumable products has exceeded the $1 million milestone in sales, as major web printers, sheetfed facilities and newspapers are turning to it as a faster and more convenient way to purchase pressroom parts and supplies.
The site offers customers an inventory of over 100,000 spare parts and consumable components. The Internet-based store went online last May for MAN Roland-equipped newspaper facilities, and by summer was accessible to any printer who runs a MAN Roland press —sheetfed or web.
Dan Young of United Graphics, Mattoon, IL, says he uses the site to support maintenance of his firm's MAN Roland sheetfed presses.
“You can quickly check pricing and availability and order parts 24/7,” Young says. “The pictures on the site often help confirm the correct part or alert you to changes or upgrades.” Young says he likes aspects of order control, which allow him to set his own purchasing parameters: “Shipping collect [C.O.D.] is always our preference, and the site allows it.”
