Founded in 2005, PRINT IT offers web and sheet fed offset book printing, binding and finishing services and produces over 25 million units a year. The soft-cover paperback specialist‘s location in Gargzdai near Klaipeda in Lithuania makes it well placed to serve the European and Scandinavian markets.

Up until 2011 the low demand for lamination in these markets meant that the Norwegian-owned company outsourced such jobs. However as the business has thrived and diversified, its customers’ demand for high-quality protected print has increased. PRINT IT’s managing director, Tomas Kocius, recognised this growing trend and the need to adapt the company’s operations to meet its customers’ changing needs.

Kocius comments: “In 2011 we saw a steep increase in demand for lamination, a service that we had always outsourced due to the sporadic requests for jobs of that nature. Then it started to become more regular, and that’s when outsourcing started to eat into our margins - so we made the decision to bring it in-house. Fortunately we had the budget to make the investment and it was just a question of finding the right machine.”

PRINT IT’s search for the right machine ended as soon the head of the company’s technical department saw an Autobond laminator being demonstrated. According to Kocius, the appeal was in the rugged machine build: “It ticked all the right boxes. The construction was simple yet sturdy, and the machine was quick. We knew it had the capabilities and longevity to help us cut outsourcing costs and continue to prosper over the long-term.”

The high production, easy-to-use, max 76 x 102 cm Mini 76 THS laminates thermal thin film sheet fed at 60 meters per minute, has a powerful continuous-feed from the Heidelberg Speedmaster 74, and comes with automatic stacker delivery.

Kocius concludes: “Since the machine was installed in April this year it has dramatically reduced outsourcing costs. In addition, because it’s in-house we have better quality control across the workflow. Most importantly our customers have noticed a tangible improvement to the quality of our products. This is naturally what we are always striving for.”

John Gilmore, managing director of Autobond, comments: “We’re seeing more and more companies choosing to bring lamination in-house. It often only takes a short period of time for companies to see that the machine pays for itself. You also have complete control over the production process from start to finish, which ultimately means a better end-product.”

Gilmore continues: “It’s great to get our first machine sale in Lithuania. We’re increasingly blessed with machine orders from all over the world at the moment, and we hope this trend will continue. It is testament to the design of an ever increasing range of machinery and the workmanship of quality machines built in England from B3 up to extra large format.”