French printer Imprimerie Joubert invests in a Rapida 105 PRO

Broad product portfolio and fast delivery times for commercial print

Imprimerie Joubert, a family-run printing company based in Carros-le-Broc near Nice in the south of France, commissioned a five-unit Rapida 105 PRO in a configuration with perfecting and raised foundations to support higher piles in spring 2019.



This is the company’s first sheetfed offset press from Koenig & Bauer. It replaces a similarly configured 11-year-old press from another manufacturer and delivers an impressive diversity of print products: From school exercise books with microperforations, via multi-part stationery and high-quality advertising brochures, through to information sheets on 45gsm (30lbs) paper as package inserts for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries.


Fourth generation in commercial printing

Imprimerie Joubert was founded by Bernard Joubert in 1980. It was initially a one-man business and produced posters, flyers and brochures for an exclusively local clientele. Through repeated investments in modern technology, however, it soon grew into a widely appreciated print company with unique craft know-how in the fields of microperforated products and lightweight substrates. In 2008, Bernard Joubert handed the reins over to his sons Yvain and Nicolas, who together represent the fourth generation of printers in the family. They have further strengthened the commitment to climate-friendly printing initiated by their father, as reflected in the various forms of certification obtained since 2001, for example ISO 14001, Imprim’vert, PEFC, ISO 9001 and ISO 1264-2-7. All waste products are recycled, the purchasing process attaches great importance to ecological aspects, concerted efforts are undertaken to minimise production waste, and the company prints without alcohol. Under the management of Nicolas Joubert, the company today counts 28 employees and posted a turnover of €4.5m ($5.04m) in 2018.


Product diversity and fast deliveries

The company has always viewed flexible means of production and a broad portfolio of print products as the basis for continued growth. It was thus important for the new press to promise not only ultimate productivity and reliability, but also – and above all – absolute versatility. The five-unit Rapida 105 PRO was configured such that it can produce both two-colour perfecting jobs, such as package inserts on lightweight paper for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries, and high-quality four-colour brochures. The fifth unit permits inline perforation ahead of the printing, a vital capability for the production of multi-part stationery and school exercise books with detachable elements. The Rapida 105 PRO handles the most varied substrates in thicknesses from 0.04 to 0.7mm (1.6 to 28thou) at speeds up to 17,000sph in straight printing and up to 15,000sph in perfecting mode. It has also been placed on raised foundations to optimise the printing of long runs.


In addition to the new Rapida 105 PRO, Imprimerie Joubert possesses two further sheetfed offset presses, as well as several digital machines, including a Duplo 3D finishing machine which was installed just a few months ago. An in-house pre-press and extensive post-press department enable the company to guarantee the fastest possible delivery times to its customers, the majority of whom are public authorities, online traders and other small and medium businesses. A complete product – printed, trimmed, folded, stitched and wrapped – can normally be delivered in just 3 to 4 days, and even the most complex jobs are ready within 4 to 5 days.


The post-press hall accommodates several folders and die-cutters, as well as a Müller Martini gathererstitcher and machines for numbering, creasing and wrapping of the printed products

Managing director Nicolas Joubert with his new sheetfed offset press from Koenig & Bauer, which was installed in spring 2019

Success through networking

“If you remain alone, you can never win,” is the motto of managing director Nicolas Joubert. “Especially in a field like commercial printing, which is not always particularly forward-looking, you have to love your profession and form networks. We were thus one of the first companies to join the printers’ association Impriclub in 1993, and we are today still a very active member of this business club, through which we offer our services to other print companies and online traders with more powerful sales organisations. We may appear to be a classic commercial printshop, but we stand out nevertheless with unique expertise in our specialist fields. Take carbonless copy paper, for example, where the necessary know-how practically no longer exists. Another example is 3D finishing, which most of the colleagues with whom we have maintained close and trustful business relationships for many years have not even introduced yet. That is precisely where our strength lies!”


Sarah Herrenkind

Background photo: The Rapida 105 PRO was configured as a five-unit perfector press to handle a broad diversity of print products, from classic four-colour brochures, via multi-part stationery and school exercise books, to patient information leaflets for the pharmaceutical industry