Océ UK presents innovation award to fast-expanding Printondemand-worldwide
Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, 4 April 2011— Printondemand-worldwide, one of Europe’s fastest-growing book manufacturing companies, has received the Océ UK Award for Innovation in Digital Book Printing.
The accolade was presented at Printondemand-worldwide’s Peterborough headquarters where the company has installed another Océ VarioPrint 6250 system and a new Océ VarioPrint 6320 – the world’s fastest mono cut-sheet production digital printing press. It has reduced its production processes through automation from 16 to four in just 18 months. After book-printing, Printondemand-worldwide’s second process involves binding and trimming, followed by packing, then distribution.
The book manufacturer, which produces both paperback and hardback books for some of the world’s biggest publishers,started as a buyout of a small inplant operation 16 years ago. Today Printondemand-worldwide is among the leading digital book printers in the country, with plans to cement this position through substantial investment and continued growth abroad as well as in the UK.
Andy Cork, Managing Director of Printondemand-worldwide, said: “It’s been an incredible journey. Océ has been a strong supporter through its business development and other initiatives. We’ve come a long way in a short space of time as the UK’s fastest-growing digital book printing publisher, whilst retaining our margins in what is a tough economic climate. The reality today is that everything is about software and having the right people doing the right jobs.
“The award from Océ recognises our significant achievements in driving efficiencies and streamlining down to four processes from 16 in just 18 months. As an example of efficiencies, three years ago we had one account manager spending a week to achieve £30,000 worth of business. Nowadays we have one account manager spending 20 minutes a day to produce £90,000 worth of work.”
Business growth has also been achieved through a strong commitment to environmental performance, starting with a building designed to BREEAM certification to meet the highest standards for ecological performance. This is also in line with Peterborough’s desire to become the UK’s greenest city.
“We were the first company to measure the carbon footprint of what we produce,” said Mr Cork. “We’re investing in some of the best digital printing equipment in the world to enable us to give a better service to local business. The inline, automated system with Océ VarioPrint systems is at the heart of our innovative approach.”
Printondemand-worldwide’s continued expansion follows the amalgamation of Milton Keynes based Digital book Print 18 months ago, which coincided with the best quarter in the company’s 15-year history. This has helped push up turnover 25% higher than the previous year. It now stands at £3.3 million, but is expected to jump to £4.8million by the spring of 2012.Staff numbers at Printondemand-worldwide are up to 44, double the number of two years ago.
Craig Nethercott, Director of Océ UK’s Production Printing, said: “This is another case of where less is definitely more for book printers and publishers. Digital technology has the capability to immediately reduce costs dramatically, as so many book manufacturers – Printondemand-world included – are finding out. Printondemand-worldwide has proven itself as a real life example of how a smart, intelligent operation can be achieved through employing the right blend of expertise, technology and investment for future growth. And clever use of automation has been at its heart.”
Further details from Colin Harding, colin.harding@shawcommunications.co.uk
Telephone 01344 761208, Mobile 07730 435400
Océ is one of the leading providers of document management and printing for professionals. The Océ offering includes office printing and copying systems, high speed digital production printers and wide format printing systems for both technical documentation and color display graphics. Océ is also a foremost supplier of document management outsourcing. Many of the Fortune Global 500 companies and leading commercial printers are Océ customers. The company was founded in 1877. With headquarters in Venlo, The Netherlands, Océ is active in over 100 countries and employs more than 20,000 people worldwide. Total revenues in financial 2010 amounted to approximately €2.7 billion. Océ is listed on Euronext in Amsterdam. For more information visit www.oce.com.
In 2010 Océ joined the Canon Group of companies with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, to create the global leader in the printing industry. Canon develops, manufactures and markets a growing line-up of copying machines, printers, cameras, optical and other products that meet a diverse range of customer needs. The Canon Group comprises over 197,000 employees worldwide. Global net sales in 2010 were more than USD 45 billion. For more information visit www.canon.com.