Polish digital printing company Totem has expanded its production capacity with the installation of two Screen Truepress Jet 520HD Mono inkjet presses, increasing its monochrome book printing capabilities.

According to Michał Stasiak, Totem’s research and development manager, the investment supports growing demand for monochrome book printing. He said the company selected the new presses to increase capacity and streamline production by separating colour and black-and-white workflows.

“Dedicated monochrome systems allow us to organise production lines more efficiently and improve throughput,” Mr Stasiak said.

Around 60 to 70 percent of Totem’s output is exported, with the remainder serving the Polish market. The company reports that many publishers are moving away from large print runs in favour of smaller, more frequent orders, reflecting changes in inventory management and distribution.

Totem says digital printing also simplifies training and staffing. The company uses multiple Screen systems, which share a common operating interface, allowing staff to move between production lines more easily. It adds that a single operator can manage more than one press at a time.

The new Truepress Jet 520HD Mono presses are intended primarily for black-and-white book production, while existing colour systems remain dedicated to full-colour work. The presses are used for text-based publications as well as books that include images and illustrations.

The systems include Screen’s JetInspection monitoring technology, which detects printing defects in real time and automatically compensates for blocked nozzles. This allows production to continue without stopping the press.

Totem says the presses are integrated with its existing finishing equipment and are being used for extended production runs. Mr Stasiak noted that customers have not reported changes in output quality following the installation, aside from faster order turnaround.

The company is also using the new presses in its “green book” product line, which focuses on reducing environmental impact through lower energy and water consumption and reduced emissions.

Totem said it plans to continue expanding its digital production capabilities and exploring new applications within the European publishing market.