Is this the rebirth of print?
Swedish journalist and TV personality, Lars Adaktusson, his brother Hans and their company Meganews have changed magazine printing – perhaps forever.
They have launched an print on demand newsstand in Stockholm. It is, in essence, a vending machine with access to the internet that prints by request.
Latest issues of magazines are stored on a server in PDF format and updated regularly by major publishers around the world. The stand is currently producing more than 200 different magazines and journals. Consumers use a touchscreen on the stand to choose a publication, pay by card, and ta-da - a freshly printed, high quality edition of the magazine selected appears.
...In less than two minutes.
The stand itself is under four square metres. It reduces publishers' costs for distribution and logistics. It is also more environmentally responsible, saves transportation and allows niche titles to expand their readership abroad.
The technology it uses is provided by Ricoh, allows for full colour printing and delivers quality similar to traditional on-shelf copies. Sweco created the software, card terminal and screens. The stand was designed by LA + B.
The stands are being tested for the next six months in airports, hospitals, universities, hotels and shopping malls. These are all locations where international purchasers encounter limited magazine supplies.
Ricoh reported, “According to a survey conducted by the research institute Innventia*, on behalf of Meganews Magazines, fossil greenhouse gases generated during the life cycle of a magazine printed in a Meganews kiosk are approximately 60 per cent lower, compared to a title printed and distributed in the traditional way. The reason for this is that 40 per cent of traditionally printed journals are not sold, must be returned and go directly to recycling. A number of Sweden’s leading publishers are participating in the project, including Bonnier Tidskrifter, Aller Media, Albinson & SjÖberg, LRF Media, IDG, Talentum and MedstrÖms.” “This product is a direct response to the growing need for on demand printing. It is also an example of true innovation and we are proud that Ricoh’s leading technology is contributing to magazine production of the future,” added Graham Moore, director of business development for Ricoh Europe.