Jérôme and Sophie Blin are managers of the Blin printing works in Ombrée d'Anjou in Maine-et-Loire (49). Jérôme is in charge of printing, Sophie is in charge of finishing, and a third person is employed in DTP. This commercial printing house has successfully developed since its creation, celebrating its twentieth anniversary in January 2021.
"?Nous are a very small structure but we don't complain, despite the crisis we work beaucoup?" explains Jerôme Blin. Faced with this exceptional situation, the printing works organises its activity on a day-to-day basis. "?L'activity was very quiet at the beginning of January, it started again a little bit at the end of January, and for the last ten days or so it's been very quiet again. We don't know in advance how the week is going to go, everything is out of order...?"
However, the printing works can count on the town's Committee of Merchants, of which it is a member. "?Nous are all in solidarity, we make each other work. I think we're gonna get through this with solidarity, we're optimistic.?»
Horse Racing
The Blin printing works, which mainly works for companies, has developed over the past two years in the highly specialised horse racing sector.
"?Nous print the programs for the race companies in our region. It is an activity that is evolving in the right direction, even if at the moment because of the Covid there are no more programs, the races take place without an audience.?»
But the printer is "?dans the starting-blocks?", ready to go again as soon as the racecourses are allowed to welcome the public again.
The sector needs to be particularly reactive because of the very short deadlines. Files are generally sent for delivery the next morning. The print shop also produces municipal newsletters and works for local associations.
The choice from the outset of the all-digital
Jérôme Blin's father, now retired, was an offsetist printer. A path not chosen by his son. From the very beginning, he chose to equip himself exclusively with digital technology.
The printing works works in small and large format with a machine park notably composed of three Konica digital presses, two of which were acquired in 2020, a Mutoh eco-solvent plotter with a width of 1.6 metres, and a Duplo collator, also acquired last year. Among the projects, the Blin printing plant is considering switching to latex inks to improve its environmental impact.
