Edelvives Group: Multi-channel innovation in learning materials

Shorter runs and less storage with Rapida 145

Edelvives is one of the few old-established publishing houses in Spain to operate a printing facility of its own. Founded 130 years ago, innovation and adaptation have always been important elements of the company philosophy. In this way, it has contributed to the education of countless generations. Ever shorter runs and limited possibilities for intermediate storage were two of the reasons behind a renewed modernisation of production.



The publishing house is well known in the Spanish education sector, and is likewise an acclaimed source of children’s and youth literature: “Our production centre also handles very small volumes of external jobs,” says Cristóbal Martín, head of production and logistics. “A lot has changed over time, and we today have the very latest technologies at our disposal.”


Management and employees of the Edelvives Group with their new, recently installed Rapida 145


Multi-channel innovation

The focus of the Edelvives Group is placed firmly on the future. The teaching materials it offers are subject to constant updating. At the same time, the publishing house produces literature to support the expanding cultural knowledge of children and adults alike. It is also broadening the spectrum of its materials to embrace various methods of cooperative learning, multiple intelligence or metacognition. New aspects such as chess or robotics, furthermore, serve to develop the cognitive abilities of schoolchildren. “Despite our long history, we are sometimes just like a start-up.”


The production centre location in Zaragoza has logistical and strategic benefits. “We know that the print industry in our country is highly automated,” Cristóbal Martín explains. “Many companies have adopted the strategy of remaining small, with a minimal workforce. In order to meet the arising challenges, we have fully integrated our production processes, from pre-press right through to finishing. We do folding, produce brochures, and even take on a few packaging jobs, for example when folders sometimes need to be die-cut.”


Beside the complete production cycle, Edelvives undertakes constant endeavours to drive innovation. Cristóbal Martín: “We have branch offices in Spain, Mexico and Argentina, and production centres in Spain and Mexico. We employ approx. 700 people in total, with 400 in Spain and around 125 of that number in the print sector. We would like to expand to Latin America, and also see opportunities elsewhere in Europe, for example in France or the UK. At the same time, we have entered alliances with companies from the digital world such as Google or Samsung. This is all enabling us to develop tremendously, in the same way as the field of education itself.”


The printers are glad to be able to work with the latest press technology


Rapida 145 – the response to shorter runs

“There is a trend towards shorter runs” – that has become something of a mantra in the industry, especially since the explosion of digital media and the terrible crisis of the past years. For Cristóbal Martín, the situation is even more coercive: “In our case, we are often dealing with ultra-short runs. We publish in all the official languages of Spain, such as Catalan, Basque and Galician, and also develop special products for every independent municipality, as well as for individual education facilities who need them.” One major issue for publishers is the urgent need to avoid excessive intermediate storage. “We hold more than 7,000 different items in stock, of which only 300 are produced in runs of 80,000 or 90,000 copies. On the other hand, there are 6,500 items where less than 2,000 copies are required. Our average run length lies between 2,000 and 2,500 copies, and so we needed a press which could handle this efficiently.”


It goes almost without saying that, even where ever shorter runs are the important factor when selecting a new press, it is imperative not to lose sight of the quality and productivity aspects. The new Rapida 145 is the answer to all these needs. “It is configured with four printing units, as is primarily necessary for publishing work, and the job changeover times are so short, that our ‘bottleneck’ now lies in pre-press. We sometimes need up to 250 plates a day.”


The production experts at Edelvives have extensive experience with the offset technology. “Even so, the high level of automation on the press entails a certain learning process. But Koenig & Bauer Lauvic has here provided us with invaluable technical support.”


Cristóbal Martín, head of production and logistics for the Edelvives Group

Interesting website:

www.edelvives.com

Questions:

Mike Engelhardt

Background photo: With its high level of automation, the Rapida 145 is an ideal means of production for short runs