CPI expands print-on-demand capacity and strengthens European book production with Ricoh investments in UK and Europe

Ricoh continues to support CPI’s long-term strategy for more sustainable, localised book manufacturing

London, 6 January 2026 - Ricoh UK has today announced the expansion of its partnership with CPI, one of Europe’s largest book printing groups, as CPI continues to invest in digital technology to meet the evolving needs of publishers and the growing demand for shorter, more sustainable book runs.

Following previous 6 installations across CPI’s production sites Europe, including its Eastbourne print-on-demand facility, the group has recently added two Ricoh’s Pro C9500 toner presses to enhance flexibility and efficiency across its European operations, with other Ricoh solutions in the pipeline. 

With 16 manufacturing plants spanning the UK, France, Germany, Czech Republic, and Spain, CPI delivers for major publishing houses as well as self-publishing authors, operating under a zero-inventory model where speed, consistency and quality are critical. This latest investment underscores CPI’s commitment to digital transformation and its focus on high service levels and operational excellence. 

“Our collaboration with Ricoh supports our strategy to localise more book production across Europe,” said Martin Collyer, Divisional General Manager at CPI UK. “The new Ricoh technology allows us to produce high-quality colour and mono books more efficiently and closer to our customers - helping us reduce waste, turnaround times and our environmental footprint.”

CPI’s move follows the successful trial of Ricoh’s Pro™ C9500 colour platform at its UK site in Eastbourne. Simon Wheeler, Strategic Account Director at Ricoh UK, said: “CPI has been a key partner for Ricoh across Europe, pushing the boundaries of automation, workflow and print-on-demand innovation. This next phase of their investment demonstrates the shared vision we have - delivering reliable, flexible and sustainable book production solutions for publishers.”

Operating in a highly competitive, low-margin market, CPI has continually evolved its model to help publishers optimise inventory and logistics. Its partnerships with leading global publishers now extend into warehouse-based production, allowing print decisions to be made closer to demand. Ricoh’s advanced automation, workflow integration, and predictive maintenance tools are central to this approach.

By investing in Ricoh’s technology, CPI will be able to further streamline operations, deliver consistent print quality, and reduce reliance on offshore manufacturing - aligning with the publishing industry’s sustainability goals.