SOS saves space with digital split

Relocating its digital division alongside the distribution centre, SOS Print & Media once again has room to grow and capitalise on recent investments.

According to director, Michael Schulz, the move not only frees up floor space for commercial offset work, but also allows it to explore the efficiencies of combining digital with distribution.

“It’s a digital centre in the making, almost all machines have been moved and soon we will have a very modern print centre. The last piece we have to move is our Xeikon digital press.

“When you have warehousing and POD on one spot you can get efficiency, as a lot of digital is on-demand and needs to be distributed to the end user, whether it be training or marketing materials,” he says.

Available space was an obvious issue for the company that has steadily been running out of room since its expansion last year. The commercial and digital divisions competing for floor space can now expand into separate premises.

Staying close to home in Alexandria, the new digital site flanking the distribution centre on Gardeners Road is connected to the original offset factory via microlink. Two towers link up the premises through a high-speed LAN.

“Some 30 digital staff have made the 2.6k move to the new site, which will operate 24 hours a day, six days a week.

“We are also looking at further investments into inkjet digital technology, on one of the larger web set platforms. There are efficiencies to be gained, and company’s who don’t invest for the future are going to find it hard to compete,” he adds.