HP signs biggest Japanese order, announces Smurfit Kappa alliance

06 June 2016

Publishing

HP has sealed a huge Japanese deal for a new books-on-demand factory at Drupa, and has also announced a collaboration with packaging giant Smurfit Kappa for its upcoming C500 corrugated solution.

Japanese publisher Kadokawa Corporation has ordered multiple HP presses for its new books on-demand production and distribution facility.

It is HP’s biggest-ever order in Japan and includes an HP PageWide Web Press T490M HD high-speed monochrome web and HP Indigo 50000 colour web, alongside associated post-press and binding equipment. Kadokawa will also use the Bronte Book Solution workflow system from HP strategic partner Rotomail.

Kadokawa director and senior managing executive officer Koichi Sekiya said the firm, which currently outsources its printing, planned to build a “next-generation” digital publishing production platform. “Starting with this project, we will create a more efficient supply chain,” he said.

Separately, HP has entered into a strategic collaboration with Smurfit Kappa. The two firms will work together on the development of the newly-announced PageWide C500 Press single-pass press for corrugated post-print.

The €8.1bn (£6.3bn) turnover Smurfit Kappa Group has more than 100 converting plants in Europe.

Smurfit Kappa Europe chief executive Roberto Villaquiran (pictured below, on right of picture, with HP's Mike Salfity) described the C500 as “the most compelling end-to-end solution for corrugated post-print”.

mike-salfity-hp-and-roberto-villaquiran-smurfit-kappa

“We looked at who were the actors in the market, and we looked at who had their own technology, and who had a proven track record of disrupting and entering into markets successfully. And the only name that actually comes up is HP,” he said.

Eviatar Halevi, director of technology for HP Scitex Industrial Presses, said: “We like to engage with customers early on. They can influence us and that’s a big thing. Good systems can succeed or fail on the details and that’s what we’re going to talk to Smurfit Kappa about.”

HP expects to commercialise the C500 in 2018, and Smurfit Kappa is likely to start using the press next year.

Mike Salfity, worldwide general manager of the HP Graphics Solutions Business, said: “This is a great opportunity for us to partner with a recognised leader in the industry. We think there’s complementary core competencies that we both bring.

“I think it sends a strong message and signal that digital is going to really change and disrupt this industry. Two leaders in our own spaces coming together is an indication of what it takes to be successful, which is partnerships and complementary products,” he added.

HP is in Hall 17 at Drupa.