Just ahead of the Frankfurt Book Fair, bookseller Thalia and Elanders Print & Packaging have revealed plans to open a joint digital printing centre at Thalia’s new Omni-Channel Hub in the gate.ruhr industrial estate in Marl. The new facility will combine advanced printing technology with integrated logistics, forming the foundation of a forward-looking model for book production. The partnership is designed to provide publishers with a cost-effective, agile production solution that streamlines manufacturing and distribution while expanding access to titles for readers.

Sven Burkhard, President of Elanders Print & Packaging, described the project as a natural alignment of expertise and vision. “The collaboration pursues a clear goal: publishers will in the future be offered an economically attractive and at the same time flexible production solution that simplifies the entire manufacturing and distribution process. The past months have shown that the experience and values of both companies complement one another perfectly,” he said.

Thalia CEO Ingo Kretzschmar added that the joint venture marks a new era for the book supply chain. “Combining the strengths of both partners enables us to establish a high-performance print-on-demand model that will shape the market in the long term and set new standards in efficiency, flexibility, and process optimisation. Together, we aim to optimise the book supply chain, support publishers, and make an even greater variety of titles available to readers in the shortest possible time.”

The new centre will act as a key component of Thalia’s omni-channel infrastructure, directly linking print-on-demand with logistics to ensure that books reach both store shelves and customer homes faster and more efficiently. Thalia, which has grown its omni-channel operations to achieve annual revenues of €2.2 billion, is now the leading player in the German-language book trade. Elanders Print & Packaging, part of the Elanders Group with revenues of €1.4 billion and a workforce of more than 7,000, brings global expertise in customisation and print innovation to the partnership. Together, the two companies are setting a new benchmark for integrated, sustainable, and customer-driven book production.