Rangefinder Magazine
November 2005

Click Here for printable version of this article.

Lab Profile Lou Jacobs Jr.
NEO Digital Imaging: A Versatile Pro Lab

The NEO facility - NEO PHOTOS BY DAVID EGGERT, DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE SERVICES AND STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

ONE HUSBAND AND WIFE PHOTOGRAPHY TEAM that serviced Cleveland’s wedding and commercial market in the early 1970s also ran Sun Color Labs. Photographer Laszlo Banyai was chosen as the exclusive photographer for the Perry, OH, nuclear power plant for a 12-year period. He worked in stills and cinema, but with the decline of cinema film usage, Laszlo, Julia and son, Laszlo Jr., expanded into video, evolving into a postproduction studio that made commercial TV and political spots.

Using a variety of high-end equipment geared to C-41 and E-6 processing and printing, Sun Color Labs continued to serve Northern Ohio in optical film processing for over 30 years. Eventually Sun lost ground to digital labs that were revolutionizing the photo industry. While Laszlo and Julia were shooting video and film, Sun Color Labs continued processing for other photographers.

Photo by Gabe Schaffer

When photographer Mark Holocker was dissatisfied with other lab consistency, he switched to Sun Color Labs, and was so impressed with their quality that he become part of the company. Under the leadership of Laszlo Jr. and Holocker, the new company, Omega Imaging, acquired a ZBE Chromira digital processor and expanded into the digital market.

Sun does film only, and Omega concentrates on digital. In early 2004, a group of investors led by Bert Allmenger approached Omega and Sun with a plan to market their services to the industry on a national scale. Principles of lean manufacturing and quality management using ISO 9001:2000 would be applied to a professional photo lab. Managing partner Allmenger explains, “We introduced methods from the automotive and appliance industries that had not been widely applied in the photographic processing business.” A marketing firm helped create a corporate identity for the revitalized company. NEO Digital Imaging was the name selected by the employees (called associates) to reflect our innovative times. Their web address is www.neoimaging.com/.

L–R) Mark V. Holocker and Lazlo Banyai oversee all daily operations quality and technical control, as well as staff relations.

The new NEO plant occupies 15,000 square feet in suburban Cleveland and is staffed to run 24 hours per day as seasonally necessary. “We have additional space available for planned future expansion.” Allmenger says, and adds, “Our term ‘NEO standard prints’ refers to our premium product at less than a premium price. We believe in offering the best quality that technology permits. We use Fujicolor Professional Crystal Archive and Kodak Endura Metallic papers. Products can be printed up to 48 inches wide at almost limitless lengths. NEO does not offer a two-tiered pricing structure. All products are premium quality at an affordable price. Additional charges cover extensive retouching and services such as coating and mounting.”

NEO Digital has a full graphics department to provide creative services to photographers in the portrait, wedding, senior, sports and events, schools and organization markets. Allmenger continues, “Quality is number one at NEO, and technology is our spoken language. Every image is evaluated and adjusted, and principles of ISO 9001 govern our daily procedures.”

NEO public relations and marketing team: (L–R) Lindsey, Leigh and Laurie.

The corporate credo is to satisfy the customers’ needs, which change as the business climate changes. NEO uses a risk- assessment procedure to evaluate all customer requests, and typically finds ways to meet those requests. The lab offers very friendly software called NEO-Order that customers can use to transfer images using either FTP through T1 lines, or by burning CDs and DVDs. Products are typically shipped in 72 hours or less.

Asked about special offerings, Bert told me that NEO provides everything from photos on t-shirts to trading cards, key tags, golf bag tags, baseballs, footballs and posters. ID cards are also a significant part of their business. Foil stamping is available in a rainbow of colors and fonts, as are texture finishes and mounting. “If a customer can imagine it,” Allmenger says, “NEO will find a way to produce it.”

NEO Digital personnel share an avid appetite for knowledge and a genuine desire to share that knowledge with each other and customers alike. Allmenger adds, “To do less risks being left behind.”

For more information, contact Bert Allmenger, NEO Digital Imaging, 4277 Hamann Parkway, Cleveland, OH 44094; (877) 757-5400; bert@neoimaging.com/www.neoimaging.com/.