manroland has completed installation of the last two of a five-line inline finishing systems project at Chinese book printer Hucais.

The letterpress giant was the first Chinese printing company to install a complete digital printing workflow with inline finishing using the German maker's FormerLine book block solution.

The first system - based on HP's inkjet digital technology - was inaugurated last year, and the fourth and fifth lines commissioned in March and April this year complete the order.

For the first time, the whole workflow, from print data to auxiliary glued book blocks, now occurs entirely inline at production sites in Dongguan and Peking.

President and chief executive Chen Chengwen says the straightforward cooperation on installation was an essential factor for the integration at record speed.

As well as expanding its digital production network - with sites in Dongguan, Peking and Shaoxing - the media company has established an e-commerce platform for printed products which print-on-demand jobs to be accepted directly and printed quickly and close to the reader. The system delivers cost-efficient production of small runs and on-demand delivery - instead of warehousing - for Chinese publishers.

Pictured: Members of the team celebrate a successful project