The Print Business of the Future?

Virtual Literature Management (VLM), a digital-print shop in the UK, has operated two NexPress 2100 digital color presses since last June and installed a third press in January. They recently surpassed the 25-million-impression mark for a 12-month period. VLM's managing director Declan Malone (above) attributes the firm's success to a fully automated workflow and the growing demand for digital fulfillment services among clients in the real-estate and financial-services fields.

VLM customers go online, choose templates for marketing collateral, upload images and key in their text. After the automated system builds the marketing piece, clients proof it online and send it to VLM ready to print. VLM offer next-day turnaround on every job, with average run lengths of 60.

Digital fulfillment, computerized workflows and new business opportunities to on-demand short-run digital color printing will be featured at the Graph Expo show Sept. 28-30 at McCormack Place South in Chicago. (Heidelberg: www.heidelberg.com; Graphic Arts Show Company: www.gasc.org)