The Diamant MC Digital Photobook bookline provides perfectly bound photo books, with each book block reliably placed in the correct book case, despite the high production speed. It ensures the efficient production of digitally printed photo books or genuine photo books with layflat binding.
With its investment in a Diamant MC Digital Photobook bookline from Muller Martini, ORWO in Bitterfeld-Wolfen in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt is on the one hand ensuring full integration of all processes in photo book production. On the other hand, the company will become more flexible with regard to customer needs in terms of formats and spine width of its extensive product range.
‘Hands off the product’ – according to Björn Schwarzbach, this thought from the automotive world was a key consideration behind why the traditional company, which was founded more than 100 years ago and has been operating as ORWO Net since 2002, decided to switch from a BF 512 to a Diamant MC Digital Photobook. The clear aim is to produce more books even more efficiently in less time in the future.
‘Our Kolbus bookline is getting a bit long in the tooth,’ said the managing director. ‘It’s still running fine because, for one thing, we’re known for the fact that our maintenance teams take excellent care of the machinery and, for another, we have a service contract with Muller Martini. But the BF 512 is limited in terms of formats and spine widths, and many settings have to be made manually.’
Three aspects that are particularly crucial for the production flow of photo books. Because for very short runs down to Book-of-1, a barcode-controlled, automated touchless workflow from a single source is required, as well as efficient batch production – and that’s what the Diamant MC Digital Photobook stands for. ‘With the diversity of customers we serve throughout Europe, even more flexibility will be required in the future,’ said Björn Schwarzbach.
As one of the largest photofinishing and printing companies in Germany, ORWO produces nearly one million photo books a year with its staff of around 340 employees, usually working 24/5, but in some departments also 24/7 in the run-up to Christmas. In addition, ORWO offers its customers, who are mainly from the DACH region (Germany/Austria/Switzerland) but also from all over Europe, numerous other individualised products such as calendars, digital and analog prints, posters, wall pictures, cards and innovative print products for the gift and decoration sector.
Björn Schwarzbach is convinced that ‘photography continues to have a great future. Especially in the mobile transformation, there are great opportunities and sales potential – in the transformation of virtual image data into beautiful haptic products that capture emotions and make them everlasting.’
ORWO, which prints digitally and images on real photo paper, is on the one hand a white-label full-service partner and on the other hand, also an e-commerce company with direct sales. In other words the company produces for major customers such as drugstore chains and well-known retail brands under their flag and supplies their end customers directly. ORWO also realises direct customer business through its own brands PixelNet, Foto Quelle, Photo Dose, myFOTO and ORWO.
THUNDERBOLT SOLUTIONS
+27 11 657 7000
www.thunderbolt.co.za
