A Cornish printing company has rebranded with a new name as it ploughs more than £1.5million in investment into growing the business.
The firm known as TJ International will from now be called TJ Books and has announced a “dynamic, future-facing rebrand” which comes alongside “significant” financial investment in new processes and equipment.
Based just outside Padstow, close to the Cornish coast, TJ Books is one of the Ƶ's largest independent manufacturers of quality books, producing on average 1,000 titles a month.
The £1.5million-plus investment strategy is focused on improvements in efficiency and providing publishers with a wide range of options for their book production requirements.
The drive towards higher production values, smaller inventory, and reduction of publisher risk, along with the environmental advantages of producing on-shore, are at the heart of the strategy, the firm said.
A new system upgrade, which includes the latest iX30200 HD inkjet press from Canon, complements two existing continuous fed Inkjet presses, which now flow into a fully automated finishing line providing a completed book within hours.
In addition, five colour toner and cover embellishments for short-run lengths have been added. The investment increases capacity and combines the workflows for short-run digital and print-on-demand production.
TJ Books, which employs more than 120 people, is also introducing a new Management Information System which will go live at the end of the year. This will streamline the front end of the business, giving customers greater visibility and live information about their orders.
The company was founded in 1969 and underwent a management buyout led by Andy Watts in 2018. Since then it has gone through a series of structural changes to ensure a thriving business despite the big uncertainties of Brexit and Covid-19.
TJ Books is today led by Mr Watts, managing director; Andy Adams, finance director; and Andy Vosper, sales director.
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Mr Watts said: “These past two years have been an important time to ensure we have laid key infrastructure to support the strategy. Our decision to buy this business and then relaunch as TJ Books, was borne from a desire to offer an innovative and refreshing approach to the market. Our new brand represents the company that we are today and what we are experts at – books.
“Our new fresh, dynamic and modern website not only showcases what we do here in Cornwall, it also portrays our unique personality within the trade and the personality of the people in our eclectic team here at TJ Books.”
Mr Adams said: “I don’t think there’s a company out there who hasn’t felt the effects of the recent industry challenges and this year’s pandemic.
“However, we’re excited about the prospect of looking beyond the now, and are taking the lead with our pioneering attitude towards the future of print.
“The art of bookbinding is a noble, long-standing profession and together with our team, we’re passionate about innovation, effectiveness and are constantly on the front-foot of the future with our new brand, and new capabilities.”
