Digital

Two pioneers of on-demand book printing have signed a strategic alliance to explore developments in in-store on-demand book printing”.

The agreement between On Demand Books, the manufacturer of the Espresso Book Machine, and international on-demand print group Lightning Source will allow the two companies to collaborate on digital strategies for the book industry.

Under the terms of the deal, Lightning Source will have access to the Espresso Book Machine technology and On Demand Books will have the right to print Light­ning Source’s library of titles with publishers’ approval. 

As on-demand gathers pace, Lightning Source sees the holding of copyrights to various titles as a key part of its business strategy.

“The ultimate goal for the publishing industry is to create a supply chain that gets the right books out at the right time in the right quantity,” said J Kirby Best, president and chief executive of Lightning Source.