Printer Opens UK Plant

-- Graphic Arts Online, 11/1/2000

CHICAGO-R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company has started production at a new printing facility in Flaxby, England. Situated on 47 acres of land, the facility occupies 220,000 square feet and employs more than 300 people.

The Flaxby facility is said to be the only directory printing plant in the world that uses "line of sight" manufacturing. This approach, according to company officials, optimizes efficiency and safety, and provides customers the opportunity to visually follow the production of a job from start to finish.

"This project is the culmination of our $55 million investment to offer our customers the most modern and efficient directory-focused printing plant in the world," explains Roy Houston, vice president and division director of R.R. Donnelley's Flaxby division.

Once it is fully operational around the middle of 2001, the plant will feature computer-to-plate imaging, four-color heatset printing, and advanced finishing capabilities. The Flaxby plant is the first Donnelley facility to achieve ISO 14001 certification, the global standard for an environmental management system.

Donnelley, which posted sales last year of $5.2 billion, provides printing, communications, and logistics services. The company employs 34,000 people.