Griffin Press has become the world’s most advanced book printer with the official launch of its new end to end HP and Kolbus digital book production line.
The company has installed a HPT410 monochrome digital printer, and added a full Kolbus binding line onto the back. Covers – previously the stumbling block in attempts to create such lines – are printed on site on Griffin’s new HP Indigo 10000 and HP Indigo 7800 printers, with embellishment on a Scodix Ultra Pro Foil, then fed into the Kolbus.
Griffin is looking to produce some 45,000 books per day or 16 million books a year, on the digital end to end line. It has two other HP monochrome reelfed digital printers, and will keep its offset presses for long run work.
The whole installation has been a three way collaboration between HP, Kolbus and Currie Group. Rob Dunnett, CEO at Currie Group says, “It is a monumental day. Griffin is really using the technology to its potential, and meeting the needs of what is a changed market.”
Hailing it as a ‘new era’ in book printing Peter George, CEO of Griffin’s parent PMP, says the company is now ‘able to offer a service that meets the demands of a rapidly changing market, which is for short run, quick delivery where time is of the essence.’
George says that the entry of Amazon into the book market ‘changed everything’ and led to local publishers demanding rapid print and short runs. He says, “Printed books are clearly here to stay. Kindle has plateaued. The book market has changed though, and so has Griffin with this new production system. Our aim is to provide publishers with the means to meet the demands of consumers, and there is no doubt this new technology will enable the company to do just that.”
Kai Buentemeyer, managing partner in Kolbus says, “Griffin Press is now the world’s most advanced book printing plant, no-one else has had the vision or the courage to go for such an installation, which is clearly the way forward.”
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