Fifo Color
Started in 1974 under the name CAPI-color / CAPI-Lux*, Fifo Color began as an analog photography company. Everything from negatives, slides and super8 was processed here. There were many collaborations with amateur photographers and school photographers. In its heyday, about 150 people worked there with one of the biggest clients being Blokker, for developing photo rolls. At present, about 15 people work in Lelystad, with some extra staff during the high season.
Distinction in quality and service
The company now focuses primarily on the professional photographer. The latter can choose from a wide range of products at Fifo Color. Professional photo paper that is photochemically exposed, di-bond, aluminum, acrylic or canvas, or just a combination between these materials. Also photo wallpaper, banners, stickers for the floor, window coverings transparent on one side: you name it. The company also specializes in school photography.
Another special expertise that Fifo Color provides is finishing printed panels with epoxy resin in combination with rhinestones, for example. This creates a very special and tangible depth effect. Artists also find their way to the print specialist in Lelystad because of this.
Quality and Service
John van der Heiden, production manager at Fifo Color, says, "We really distinguish ourselves in the quality and service we provide to our customers. This manifests itself in the fact that with every order we look carefully at how to achieve the best result. If it takes a proof or three phone calls to the customer before we print, we are happy to do that. We want the customer to receive the best possible product. If you invest in your customers, it always comes back to you."
The true professional photographer is no longer around
"There have been quite a few changes in the photography and print industry over the past few decades," John says. "You see the professional professional photographer less and less. Anyone with a phone or simple camera can call themselves a photographer these days. You also see less and less printing; everything is stored digitally. People are also more quickly satisfied with lesser quality, which is a shame."
Speed and quality with the Mimaki JFX200-2513 EX
In September 2019, a Mimaki JFX200-2513 EX was delivered to Fifo Color by Dimix. The first of this type in the Netherlands. This did not happen overnight, because to get this machine inside, an outside wall had to be demolished first. In combination with Bouwman Klussenbedrijf and a smooth cooperation with Dimix, this was realized in no time. "The choice for this Mimaki was mainly the quality and speed. The prints we make with it are much better quality than we were used to, also the white printing is much faster. We can really make unique things with this for our customers."
Future
John sees nice growth for the company in the future. "We are serving more and more upscale home furnishing stores with our high-end prints and finishes. Professional trade photographers and school photographers still know how to find us well. We are also always looking for innovative materials and finishes ourselves. For example, we are currently testing Dimix's D-Line Crystal Panel materials. So far we experience this as a nice addition to our product range."
With the Mimaki JFX200-2513 EX, we now also have the option of 2.5D printing. With Rasterlink, the software that converts the received images for the printer, parts of a photo or design can be printed in relief. The printer first puts up to as many as 17 layers of transparent ink under the highlighted areas, and after a white intermediate layer, the final image is printed. The whole forms a beautiful result with visible and tactile details. Consider the special possibilities for works of art, wedding reports, product photography, exhibition panels and much more!
Are you curious about what Fifo Color can do for you?
Then take a look at fifocolor.nl / fifocolor.eu
*Capi stands for C. A. P. Ivens, the man who founded one of the first photo stores in the Netherlands in Nijmegen over a hundred years ago. This grew into the retail chain CAPI with branches in Amsterdam, Groningen and The Hague which later merged into CAPI-Lux.
