SOS Print + Media have recognized the digital printing of books as an important growth sector in digital printing and have invested during the past years to be able to provide best technology solutions for publishers. SOS owns two of the fastest cut sheet engines available (OCE 6250) and has made adjustments to its binding and finishing equipment to provide a complete solution to the changing needs of publishers. The most recent investment in this area was a third perfect binder.

With the Xeikon SOS uses a very fast high quality digital colour press to produce covers on demand. The Xeikon can use a variety of stocks and is able to print in five colours on each side of the sheet. The covers are gloss or matt celloglazed in house.

We produce three different kinds of digital books:

Short Run Books - books that are only needed in low quantities because their popularity is lessening. They are still in demand and ordered at book stores or on online sites. Before digital print enabled the production of low quantities, these books were often "out of print" and unavailable. They used to be imported from overseas and order fulfilment could take six weeks. With digital production, no book needs to be out of print. Short run books are printed in quantities of 50 to 900, on book stock with a celloglazed colour cover.

• Book text printed black on Creamy Book paper 70 gsm (FSC accredited)
• Covers printed digitally in full colour on 250 gsm matt art (FSC accredited) and matt or gloss celloglazed
• Books are perfect bound and packed into boxes
• Minimum order quantity is 50
• Books can usually be produced within four business days

Reading Copies (aka Advance Proofs or Bound Uncorrected Proofs) - books used for the marketing of books that are coming up for release. Often printed on normal copier paper (bond), bound with a colour or black only cover.

• Book text printed black on 80 or 90 gsm bond (FSC accredited)
• Covers printed colour or black on white or coloured board (FSC accredited)
• Books perfect bound and packed into boxes
• Minimum order quantity is 10
• Books can usually be produced within four days from order and receipt of files (for quantities under 900)

Books Of One On Demand (POD) - these books are truly printed on demand, produced after they have been ordered. This run of one is printed on book paper and the colour cover is celloglazed, they look and feel just like a traditional (normal) book.

• Book text printed black on Creamy Book Paper 70 gsm. (FSC accredited)
• Covers printed digitally in full colour on 250 gsm matt art (FSC accredited) and matt or gloss celloglazed.
• Books are perfect bound, packed into boxes or envelopes, and labelled ready for despatch.
• Minimum order quantity is 1.
• Turnaround time is usually 24 hours from order (within a print on demand agreement).
• Books are packed in single quantities.

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