Italian Printer Adapts to Declining Printing Centers with Hybrid Model
Milan, Italy – Centro Stampa Quotidiani (CSQ) is navigating a shrinking landscape of Italian newspaper printing centers by embracing a hybrid printing model, combining offset and inkjet technologies to meet the demands of a changing industry. The company’s adaptability is allowing it to thrive as the number of printing facilities nationwide plummets.
Once, Italy boasted a robust network of newspaper printers. in 2004, the country had 98 printing centers, a number that peaked at 101 in 2009 before entering a steep decline.Today, only 39 remain. This consolidation has forced CSQ to evolve from high-volume, single-newspaper printing to a more flexible system handling smaller runs for a wider range of clients.
“On October 2, we printed Süddeutsche Zeitung and Bild on offset, because circulation was too high to print digital,” explained CSQ representative De Cian. This capability extends to complex weeklies like Toscana Oggi, which utilizes both inkjet for the main section and offset for inserts. Currently, toscana Oggi prints 5,500 copies in 12 different editions, with offset pages inserted using a Mueller Martini system.
The shift reflects a broader trend at CSQ. In 2007,the company operated two offset presses,printing four daily newspapers and 155 million copies across 4,474 print jobs. By 2024, CSQ had expanded to five offset presses and printed 12 daily newspapers, but total copies decreased to 88 million despite an increase in print jobs to 5,822.
This demonstrates CSQ’s success in adapting to a market demanding more frequent, smaller print runs and diverse editions, made possible by strategic investments in a versatile range of printing technologies. The company’s mailroom now possesses the adaptability to handle “any type of order, any given day,” positioning it as a key player in a consolidating industry.
