Titles are listed through local and international e-commerce portals such as Takealot, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bertrams. When a consumer purchases a book, the order is routed to POD’s facility in Parow, where it is turned into a print job, delivered to the online platform and then on to the consumer within three days.
‘By printing this way, authors and publishers can reduce the risk of printing too many copies upfront and do pre-launch marketing to test the demand for a particular title,’ explains MD Tertius van Eeden. ‘The other advantages of printing on demand are that publishers can monetise their backlists, keep all the books in their catalogue in print and reduce warehousing and storage operating costs by up to 60%.’
POD recently became the first printer in Africa to invest in HP’s PageWide Web T240 roll-to-roll inkjet press with high-definition nozzle architecture. The 2 400 nozzles/inch native resolution and dual drop weight produce exceptional image quality and detailing, such as shadows and smooth skin tones.
Tertius reports that this technology raises the digital colour quality bar. Using the press in Performance HDK mode, POD can sustain full productivity while enhancing image grain with dual drop weight black. Consistent quality throughout a run is made possible through continuous alignment, repeated monitoring, active adjustment to colour registration and built-in 4-8x nozzle redundancy, which ensures greater uptime.
‘We’ve invested in the HP PageWide T240 press because of its ability to produce the speed required for publishing jobs and the quality demanded by commercial brand owners,’ he states. ‘HP also offers a data-driven solution in PrintOS that gives us real-time access to production analytics. For example, the ability to see ink usage upfront allows us to accurately cost each job.’
Tertius adds that local representative Pierre Driver, Kemtek Imaging Systems’ national sales executive, played an important role in the decision-making process. ‘I’ve known Pierre since 2007, and he always recommends printing solutions that are in line with the company’s vision and carefully guides you through the benefits that each one offers to make sure that it’s the right fit,’ Tertius notes. ‘The relationship, however, is not just about making sales, Pierre takes a genuine interest in his customers. He is always checking in to see how we’re doing and if we need any assistance or advice.’
Tertius describes the installation of the press, undertaken by five HP engineers and three Kemtek Imaging Systems technicians, as meticulous and well-executed because it required almost no ramp-up period after the first print was produced.
The HP PageWide T240 has helped Print on Demand meet its sustainability goals by reducing wastage, optimise production efficiency and access new markets. ‘The unprecedented productivity, versatility, and print quality across a wide range of commercial printing applications have opened doors for POD within this space,’ he reports.
‘As a leading digital printer and innovator, the HP PageWide T240 is a complementary addition to our booming business and a strategic advantage in the growth of e-commerce distribution platforms,’ Tertius concludes.
Click here to read in the e-mag.
