Another large inkjet digital installation is going into China for book production.

The eight Screen Truepress Jet 520 presses - half of them mono and half four-colour - are to be configured into four production lines at book printing giant CNPIEC Digital Printing Co.

Each line will include the new Jet520HD high-speed colour inkjet and a monochrome Jet520EX.

CNPIEC is China's largest importer/exporter of books, with 70 per cent share of the nation's import market and 40 per cent share of exports. The 67-year-old operation moved into digital printing in 2014.

Screen has signed a strategic relationship which will see it provide comprehensive support, technical advice and market trend information as CNPIEC expands its digital printing operations. A further five sites are planned within mainland China.

CNPIEC president Pod. Guo says the operation handles a wide variety of publications that require high-quality printing, including many well-known foreign books: "However, for many years we have struggled to find a system that is capable of producing the appropriate number of copies in a timely fashion without compromising on quality."

The decision to install the Truepress Jet 520 range follows evaluation of various systems, with "no other model coming close" on quality.

"Our new systems will certainly provide us with the ability to handle publications for both the domestic and international markets. They will also allow us to utilise applications that target individual consumers with variable and small lot printing, as we work to expand our overall printing business."

Pictured: Screen GP president Katsuhiko Aoki (right) exchanges contracts with Pod. Guo