Andrea Albanese · From One Copy to Thousands — Automation Driving Production · Pixartprinting

Books and magazines are an important part of Pixartprinting’s business, and with around 1,000 different orders moving through production every day, automation isn’t simply an advantage — it’s essential.

At Pixartprinting, production starts from just one copy, putting enormous demands on workflow integration, reliability, changeover times, and waste reduction. Two Canon ProStream presses form part of the production setup, combined with Müller Martini finishing solutions in both nearline and inline configurations. The latest GEN8 roll-to-stack solution can process a wide variety of formats and substrates at speeds of up to 160 meters per minute, while an inline installation connected to a ProStream 3000 uses buffering to enable automatic changeovers without stopping production.

The flexibility is impressive. Pixartprinting can change between seven or eight different substrates every day, covering weights from around 100 to 250 gsm, while keeping production efficient and predictable.

But the machines are only part of the story.

Pixartprinting has built a highly automated digital workflow connecting its production equipment and enabling thousands of individual jobs to move through the factory with minimal manual intervention. Being part of the Cimpress family also creates opportunities for production sharing between plants and brands when products and capabilities overlap.

Sustainability plays an equally important role. Since 2018, Pixartprinting has operated using renewable energy sources and recycles almost 90% of its production waste. When producing single-copy products, avoiding waste becomes both an economic and environmental necessity.

In this film, we take a closer look at the thinking behind Pixartprinting’s book and magazine production, its partnership with Müller Martini, and why increasing product complexity will make automation, digitalization, and inline production even more important in the years ahead.

Enjoy!