CPI and Zeitfracht are expanding their on-demand printing (PoD) capabilities at the Erfurt location: greater variety / better quality / faster delivery

Erfurt, March 11, 2025. ZeitfrachtMedien and CPI continue to pursue their print-on-demand strategy. Thanks to a significant expansion of printing capacity and extensive technological investments at the Erfurt facility, even more books will be available at any time and on short notice in the future. 

This offers several advantages for Zeitfracht Medien’s bookstore wholesalers, publishing distributors, and publishing suppliers: 

• Fast turnaround:With the new high-speed printing technology, up to 40,000 books can be produced daily and delivered to retailers just in time.
• Top-notch quality:Thanks to state-of-the-art printing presses, POD at Zeitfracht delivers brilliant colors and high-quality workmanship.
• Wider selection:Whether bestsellers or niche titles—print-on-demand publishing already offers two million titles, and that number is growing every day.
• Increased capacity: Thanks tothe expanded infrastructure, both small and medium-sized print runs can be produced efficiently.

Print-on-demand is the future: With the CPI investment, the new inkjet web press, the two additional 4-color sheetfed offset presses, and the expanded binding line for hardcover and softcover books—as well as the existing printing presses—will be directly integrated into the logistics operations in Erfurt. They are the key to a more sustainable and cost-effective distribution business. By avoiding overproduction and eliminating long transport routes, Zeitfracht and CPI actively contribute to environmental protection. This is not only more efficient but also conserves resources.

Thomas Raff, Managing Director of Zeitfracht Medien, highlights the significant benefits of this development: “The continuous expansion of our product range not only brings greater variety to our customers but is also a major step toward sustainable production. Our ongoing expansion in the PoD sector increases the variety of our product range and contributes to a greener future by reducing overproduction. I am convinced that those who embrace this trend will remain competitive in the long term and operate more efficiently. Book wholesalers and publishing distributors that fully integrate PoD into their logistics operations score points with faster availability and a better product offering.”

Robert Höllein of CPI Books also confirms: “Our investment in new machinery and the expansion of our capacity in Erfurt is taking our print-on-demand business to a whole new level. We can now produce books even faster and more cost-effectively, while ensuring consistently high quality. This means shorter lead times and greater flexibility for our customers.”

Kay Wissendorf, Head of Purchasing at Zeitfracht, adds: “Over the past year, the number of copies delivered via PoD in Erfurt has nearly doubled. CPI’s increased production capacity in Erfurt now easily meets the rising demand. We deliver faster and more reliably—much to the delight of our customers.”