Collazo Group Rises from the Ruins with Fujifilm’s Onset X1-Lt After Hurricane Maria

After Hurricane Maria damaged Collazo Group’s facilities, it relied on the Inca Onset X1-LT — installed two months after the storm passed — to get business back up and running profitably.

Collazo Group, a Puerto Rico-based print service provider, rebuilt its business with Fujifilm’s (Booth 8220) Inca Onset X1-LT months after Hurricane Maria, a Category 4 storm, devastated several islands in the Caribbean.

Hurricane Maria came ashore on Sept. 20, 2018, and was the strongest storm to make landfall in Puerto Rico in 85 years, with sustained winds of 155 mph, knocking out power to the entire island. Homes and businesses were destroyed; trees were uprooted, and there was widespread flooding. It was an event of historic proportions. 

“When the hurricane hit, there were no communications at all, no email, and no telephones,” says Christian Collazo, owner, Collazo Group. “Part of our building collapsed, parts of the roof blew off, and we were flooded. We were shut down for three weeks, rebuilding and cleaning.”

Two weeks prior to the hurricane, Christian Collazo had signed a contract for the Onset X1-LT. “We immediately spoke to Fujifilm to discuss a delay, because we were in limbo,” says Collazo.

Collazo Group took on a small office in the metro area of the island, with limited internet availability and telephone service. Little by little, supermarkets and other businesses re-opened.

Fast-forward two months after the hurricane and a successful install of the Onset X1-LT, and Collazo Group was “back into full-swing of business,” with around four months to return to full capacity. A recent open house celebrated these new beginnings.

“When clients started re-ordering, they were doubling-up on orders, as all of their previous output was ruined by the storm,” adds Collazo.

With origins as an offset commercial printing company, Collazo Group saw the margin of offset dropping off, and needed a wide-format press that could handle their ever-growing capacity, which includes large, custom displays for retail-driven clients including drug stores, supermarkets, malls, chocolate and snack companies, and pharmaceuticals.   

“It’s not possible without digital,” says Collazo. “We can now show the client the final product, as-is, with exactly the same materials, same output, same finishing, and they really like that. The Onset has helped us gain a lot of new business.”

He continues, “We output a lot of white ink on the Onset, and it’s the best on the market for quality, production, and outstanding reliability.”

Collazo Group prints on multiple substrates, including corrugated, foam boards, styrene, PETG, Lexan, ACM, and PVC. “The adhesion on these substrates is really good, and the matte and gloss finishes allow substrates to really stand out, especially for my upscale clients,” says Collazo.

“Fujifilm’s communication, support and service are very good,” concludes Collazo. “If I don’t have the support, I’m not going to buy the machine.” 

Collazo Group is a family business founded in 1984 with three employees, and today has more than 70 professionals in a modern, 45,000 sqft facility, operating two shifts, 16 hours per day. Since the beginning, Collazo Group has distinguish itself by providing quality services and excellence to their clients, and understand that every job is a unique chance to make a good impression.