DBC is about helping customers to look good, said Kall Kwik chairman Nigel Toplis. Its taking print-on-demand and providing creativity-on-demand.

The DBC concept, developed over the past two years, will focus on services to support SMEs marketing through design, asset management and direct mail.

Anyone can buy a fast machine, but we have the knowledge, said Toplis. DBCs will be offered to existing franchisees that Kall Kwik believes have the right skills and technologies.

Bob Peacock, owner of Kall Kwik Harrogate, runs Yorks centre. DBCs will only house digital print kit, cutting the set-up cost from around 150,000 to under 100,000. We wanted to provide centre owners with a less expensive opportunity, said Toplis. We dont need more litho capacity, there are already 240 litho presses in the group.

DBCs will offer conventional print through production at mother centres. Kall Kwiks initial plans are for 12 DBCs. A second site, in London, will open within two months.

It worked closely with Canon to produce a suitable package of equipment and networking. The York centre has a Canon iR8500 black-and-white printer and CLC 1150 colour printer.

Story by Barney Cox