To accelerate research and innovation, the Riccobono Group has set up an in-house R&D laboratory. Named Lab Riccobono, it is made up of technical specialists from the production centers of the Group's four businesses - press, magazine, finishing and distribution - who were already working on developing and improving their processes. This cross-functional unit is "a gas pedal", enabling teams to share not only their progress, but also their failures, stresses the French group.
Under the direction of Camille Hoarau, Riccobono's Industrial Director, the Riccobono Lab monitors technological developments in the graphic arts sector and other business segments, and works to optimize production processes in order to increase the speed and reliability of operations at the group's 13 printing sites, seven converting/routing sites and 10 distribution depots. This laboratory is also the place where new ideas are developed.
With sales of close to 310 million euros and 3,000 employees, the group headed by fifth-generation founder Guillaume Riccobono has already registered several patents with the French National Institute for Industrial Property (INPI).
Riccobono has, for example, created alternatives to plastic film for carrying, such as addressing on a removable label (Label Press patent) or addressing on a removable folding label, with the backing closed on one side (Label Press Folding patent).
It has also launched a new ultra-low grammage heat-sealable routing paper, Paper Press, enabling publishers to save on postage costs (patented ERS for Enduction Riccobono System).
The printer also installed Europe's first quarterfold tabloid presses, an innovation for which the Riccobono group has a monopoly in France.
