Book printing operation Griffin Press has pushed the start button on its new multi-million dollar high speed inline end to end digital book printing line, in so doing being hailed as the most advanced book printing company in the world.
The new line takes a reel of paper at one end, then without stopping prints, binds and adds the covers, producing shelf ready books in whatever size is specified.
The press is the HPT410 monochrome printer, with a Kolbus binding line on the back end. Covers are fed into the Kolbus and wrapped around the blocks. Covers had been a stumbling block to end to end production, however Griffin has installed an HP Indigo 10000 B2 and an HP indigo 7800 B3 press, along with Scodis Ultra Foil Pro embellishment, enabling the covers to be printed and finished on site, and then fed straight 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.
Ben Jolly, general manager at Griffin says, “It is not everyday that an investment of this scope and size takes place, but Griffin and PMP have now built a foundation with which to serve publishers. They want shorter runs, then want quick delivery, and they want to eliminate inventory, so they can free up working capital and eliminate waste. Griffin Press is now able to meet all these requirements.”
The installation of the digital production equipment has bene handled by HP, Kolbus and Currie Group, who also represent Scodix in Australia. Describing the launch event as ‘a monumental day’ Rob Dunnett, CEO at Currie Group says, “Griffin is showing the world how to implement and integrate digital technology to produce outcomes the market is demanding.”
Peter George, CEO of Griffin’s parent PMP, says “The book printing market has changed rapidly, and so has the business model of publishers. They no longer want to hold inventory, they no longer want to wait, they want books according to demand. Griffin Press with this investment can meet that demand.”
George says that the new digital era will keep more book printing in Australia, as overseas printers will not be able to compete in time, and for much short run work it will not be cost effective to shop books here.
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.”
Steve Donegal, regional manager at HP says, “We are proud to be in partnership with Griffin Press and its world leading production centre. At HP we are seeking partners who can optimise the opportunities that new technology brings, and Griffin is without doubt doing that.”
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