CSDS' Blog

Open the door to new business opportunities by attending the The Latex Experience featuring the HP Designjet L25500

Posted by CSDS Blog on Tue, Mar 01, 2011 @ 03:42 PM
California Surveying & Drafting Supply and Hewlett PackHEWL2550042WEB md[1]ard want you to be among the first to see how you can use HP's new environmentally-friendly latex technology to print on all types of signage, fabrics, vehicle wraps, backlit film and more. The HP Designjet L25500 printer uses pigmented water-based latex inks to produce photographic quality indoor and outdoor signage with durability comparable to solvent-inks, but with no environmental impact. Plus, with the flexibility of these inks, you will be able to print on medias that you can't with a solvent.

At this fun and informative event, you'll :
  • Be privy to exclusive purchase incentives that will not be offered at tradeshows or through other dealers
  • Direct your printer questions to the HP Product Development Manager for the Designjet L25500 (who is visiting from Barcelona)
  • Meet HP Representatives and Technical Consultants
  • Meet the ONYX Software Consultant and learn how you can simplify everyday printing tasks and gain control over your workflow
  • See actual applications produced with output from the Designjet L25500 (sofas, vehicle wraps, wallpaper, etc)
  • Have the opportunity to bring a file and have it output on the L25500
  • Receive a special gift, just for being our guest.

Register now at: http://conta.cc/hg6rvb

Tags: HP designjet service, HP plotters, large format printer service, Wide-format printers, Hewlett Packard

Construction Takeoff and Estimating

Posted by CSDS Blog on Fri, Jan 28, 2011 @ 02:20 PM
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If you are still doing your construction takeoffs and estimates by hand, California Surveying & Drafting Supply and Planswift, the industry leader in digital plan software, invite you to join us for a complimentary 2-hour steakhouse lunch to learn how you can save valuable time and effort bidding on jobs.
 
With Planswift, completing construction material takeoffs has never been easier. Planswift's easy-to-learn, intuitive digitizing cuts estimating time in half. Other features of the software include:
  • Excel integration
  • Excellent customer support & training
  • Takeoff prints with a color coded legend
  • Easy to set-up parts & assemblies for materials and labor
  • Easy plan navigation for zooming and panning, including sort cut keys
  • Powerful reports
  • Fully customizable
PlanSwift's feature-rich environment includes the ability to measure square, linear and metric footage, pitch and angles, and see-through and comparative plan overlays, as well as the ability to email plans, update them, and even store them using industry-standard CAD and image files.
 

Tags: building constructions, building plans, large format printer service, BIM, construction

Windows 7 64-bit drivers for older HP plotters

Posted by CSDS Blog on Tue, Jan 25, 2011 @ 11:00 AM
Bruce repair HPDo you own an older HP Designjet printer and have problems running Windows 7 because you need a 64-bit driver? Although Hewlett Packard stopped producing new drivers for all Designjets below the 1000 series, there's a rather simple solution to this dilemma that will keep you up and running.

Simply click here to submit your contact data and we will have a member of our HP Service Team provide you with information on how to load a compatible driver that will work with your plotter.

 

 

Tags: HP designjet service, HP plotters, large format printer service, Wide-format printers, Hewlett Packard, plotter service

Engineering Co. Taps CSDS for Personalized Solution to Wide Format Printer Service

Posted by CSDS Blog on Thu, Dec 30, 2010 @ 11:35 AM

Situation

With 15 locations spanning California, Utah, Colorado and Mexico, Nolte Engineering is considered a leader in the development of sustainable solutions for civic infrastructure development. Each office is staffed with civil engineering teams who rely heavily on their HP imaging plotters for their CAD drawing and rendering output.

Candi Becerra, Nolte’s corporate procurement supervisor, is responsible not only for the purchase of these mission-critical plotters, but also for ensuring that they consistently operate at optimal levels and without any downtime.

“We had historically purchased our HP plotters through California Surveying and Drafting Supply (CSDS) but went directly to HP for our maintenance agreements and service paks,” explains Candi. But with more than 17 large-format HP plotters and printers corporate wide, each under a different service agreement, Candi was spending more time than she wanted on maintenance-related matters for Nolte’s imaging equipment. “It was a matter of just having to deal with too many different people, too many contracts and no real continuity when it came to our corporate-wide imaging solution,” explains Candi. “I just felt that there had to be a better way.”

 

CSDS Steps In

Nolte Engineering has always had a successful, longstanding relationship with CSDS when it comes to the purchasing of their HP printers and plotters, with CSDS Account Manager Robert Barabino consistently impressing Candi with his proactive and consultative approach to their imaging needs. “For me, successful business relationships are based on good communication, honesty and reliability,” explains Candi. “Rob offers all of that and more – it’s truly stellar customer service.” In addition, Candi works with CSDS surveying specialist Mike Woodel who provides support for the company’s surveying equipment and software needs. “Rob and Mike have always brought an exceptionally high level of service and expertise to the table for us,” Candi comments. “Their team approach to servicing our account works very successfully. Once I became aware that they could potentially handle our equipment maintenance, I was certainly open to the idea based on their past performance.”

Rob recognized that there were huge inefficiencies in Nolte’s plotter maintenance process, and convinced Candi that CSDS could indeed handle all of their HP service needs. “As an Authorized Warranty Delivery Partner, we are held to extremely high standards by HP in terms of our performance metrics,” explains Rob. “I was very proud to report that we consistently score 99% in all categories of service and support in the Graphics category.” By taking over the HP service agreements, CSDS could provide Nolte with a single point of contact for all of their plotter and printer maintenance and repair. When Candi discovered that this change would also save the company money, she agreed to test drive the arrangement.

“We started by having Bruce Lowe (CSDS’s HP Technician) service our Sacramento office,” explains Candi. Once she experienced the high standards of customer service and responsiveness that Bruce delivers, she agreed to let CSDS service Nolte’s entire U.S. operations. As maintenance renewals came to maturity, the contracts were transferred directly to CSDS.

“When you have this type of in-depth service relationship, you can really understand the history of the equipment,” explains Bruce. “We can now provide a single help desk to support Nolte’s 13 U.S. locations. We’re only a phone call away and Nolte can deal with
a single organization they trust.”


“These days we refer to Bruce as our ‘Plotter God’,” jokes Candi. “Not only do we save thousands of dollars a year by going directly to CSDS, but I now have a single point of contact for all of our plotters and printers. Their responsiveness is incredible. They even proactively schedule technicians to spot check equipment or look into software updates if they are in the area servicing another account. We save money and the service is seamless.”

 

Maximizing HP’s Promotional Programs

Candi also appreciates how Rob and his team keep her abreast of HP promotional plans like the Purchase Edge Points program where customers can earn one point for every $4 spent on over 1,300 qualifying HP products. “It’s been such an incentive that we now purchase all of our toner and paper products from HP,” says Candi. “Robert even coordinates our recycling program for us, which earns us points as well. We’ve been able to get several small laser jet printers free because of this wonderful program.”

With 13 U.S. locations to be equipped and serviced, Nolte Engineering requires proactive partnerships with their vendors to continually analyze their needs and present cost-effective equipment solutions. “There is no company that better embodies that type of ideal business partnership with us than CSDS,” notes Candi.

Tags: HP designjet service, large format printer service, plotter service