Dublin-based Virtual Literature Management (VLM) is expanding its operations with a new Greenfield site close to its existing Birmingham distribution hub in Kings Norton.

The 35 year-old company specialises in short-run, pertinent marketing collateral, explained managing director Declan Malone. Its Dublin operation employs 70, and installed its first Agfa Chromapress in 1997. It now runs two Chromapresses and two Xerox DocuColor 2060s.

Clients include blue-chip property management groups that use VLMs bespoke website technology to build their own documents. VLM previously served UK clients from Ireland, but freight costs and deadline issues drove the firm to expand with the new Birmingham operation. Installation commences this week and we expect to have three NexPress units fully up and running by the end of April, Malone added.

VLM expects to have 28 people in the UK by the end of the year, and Malone anticipates sales of 4m in the UK in 2002. Turnover is currently 5m. I dont see anyone serving the market the way we do, Malone added.

[o]NexPress president Venkat Purushotham said that delivering the NexPress promises made at Drupa 2000 was a most rewarding feeling our customers are productive and profitable.

We have created an interesting problem for ourselves we have preached that the NexPress is a printing press, and our customers put us through hoops with their most demanding jobs. Were pleased the press is able to handle that."

NexPress has introduced its new NexTreme variable data option, the first such application to use the new PPML/VDX standard. It will come in three versions, with the basic NexTreme 500 included free of charge with the NexPress 2100. The 500 and 1000 versions will handle more complex applications.
We believe there is a big void at the high end, Purushotham added. We have some customers who have 6,000 variable data fields in a job one had a job that took 48 hours to RIP, they had to set it going on a Friday night and hope it wouldnt crash over the weekend!

Londons St Pauls and the City Prontaprint is one of the pilot sites for NexTreme.