The machine was installed last month at the group’s Croydon base. It was bought after a lengthy evaluation that started with a visit to another Jet Press customer in Germany two years ago.
At the time, though impressed, CPI opted to take on an HP Indigo B2 press. That machine will now be transferred to the CPI Colour commercial print wing, also in Croydon, as the Jet Press takes its place at Books.
Fujifilm digital business development manager Dave Cull said: “CPI have never bought anything from us before; I would have described them as a target account. They came to us to look at the Jet Press because of its registration – the colour consistency, accuracy and litho-like quality. It passed all their tests with flying colours.
“When the operators first knew they were taking it on, they were a little cynical that it could really be that good quality. However, the feedback now it is up and running has been very impressive and the team said they would never go back.”
The Jet Press 720S is a second-generation B2 sheetfed digital inkjet system with a production speed of up to 2,700sph. Promising “ultra-high” quality CMYK print, it will aid the mostly-litho CPI in establishing consistency for recurring short-run jobs.
CPI’s portfolio of work has included a number of well-known literary names and brands, including the Harry Potter and Game of Thrones books, as well as titles from comedian and children’s writer David Walliams.
“Our location in Croydon is the colour centre for all our UK binding sites. We have six litho presses and a full and extensive range of pre-press and finishing equipment, which deliver some 3 million book jackets and covers to our UK binding sites every week,” said CPI Books operations director Jamie Stanborough.
“The majority of this work is litho printed, but publishers are increasingly reluctant to hold on to inventory and are looking to print shorter runs more often. That’s where the Jet Press really comes into its own.
“Colour matching to litho is straightforward and the colour consistency is exceptional. With the Jet Press we can be 100% confident that a reprint months or even years later will be a precise match to the original.”
CPI Books will now focus solely on book printing, with any excess commercial print jobs moving to CPI Colour along with the Indigo press. With 17 locations across Europe, around 2,500 staff and headquarters in France, the £320m-turnover group was bought by Circle Media Group last month.
