The new firm is headed up by ex-Antony Rowe managing director Robert Hunt and will focus on the academic and educational market.

Cpod is based in Trow­bridge, Wiltshire, at parent company Cromwell Press’s headquarters. The firm has bought an Océ VarioPrint 6250 mono press, which prints at 250ppm, and an Océ CS650 colour machine.

“The trend in the book market is definitely towards digital print,” said Hunt. “Publishers are realising that they are losing out on revenue from books that have gone out of print.”

Hunt added that he opted for the Océ machines because of the quality and speed of
the presses.

“Océ has stolen the march in terms of speed,” he said. “We will be making more significant announcements in the coming months and these will involve partnering Océ.”

Cpod has a workforce of 10 and is incorporating Océ’s Prisma print controller to streamline its workflow.

Océ UK commercial division director Simon Wheeler said: “Publishing demands have changed so dramatically in recent years that digital is becoming the way forward and the only real option in many cases.”

In January last year, Crom­well Press spent £1.3m across its factory and moved to a larger sheet size. It bought the UK book market’s first KBA Rapida 130a large-format perfector.