The remarkable collaboration between King Printing in Lowell, MA, USA, and Rotolito in Milan, Italy highlights the power of partnerships within the Dscoop and HP PageWide communities. By blending trust, shared vision and print technology, these two family-run businesses have redefined global book production and distribution.

Their story exemplifies how collaboration among HP PageWide users can bridge gaps, unlock new opportunities and address the evolving needs of publishers worldwide.

A Meeting in Milan Sparks a Global Solution

More than a decade ago, Adi Chinai, President and CEO of King Printing, and Emanuele Bandecchi, Sales and Marketing Director at Rotolito, met for the first time. The introduction, facilitated by HP, took place in Milan — a city that is both a publishing hub and a strategic location for logistics.

Adi, whose father founded King Printing in 1978, visited Rotolito’s facility to explore how digital printing technology might help his short-run book manufacturing business evolve.

At the time, Rotolito had already established itself as a publishing powerhouse in Europe, offering end-to-end printing and packaging solutions. Founded over 45 years ago, Rotolito began as a small operation with eight employees and a single machine printing the Italian comic Diabolik. Today, it operates 10 production sites and serves diverse clients, including banks, fashion firms and non-profits.

The meeting wasn’t just a professional success — it was the start of a deep friendship.

“We met and had a really great connection — sort of this immediate friendship over being in a family business and being early adopters of technology,” recalls Adi, who was named to the Printing Impressions Printing Industry Hall of Fame in 2023. “It really became evident from that point forward that there was an opportunity for more than just talking about how we’re going to use inkjet.”

Emanuele welcomed Adi’s visit with transparency, showing both the advantages and challenges of HP PageWide technology. That honesty set the tone for a relationship built on trust and collaboration. Initially focused on knowledge-sharing and troubleshooting, their partnership quickly evolved into a strategic solution for publishers with global distribution needs.

Today, Rotolito supports King Printing with larger offset print runs when needed, while King Printing provides Rotolito with smaller quantities for U.S. markets. This allows both companies to optimize costs and delivery times, creating value for their publishing clients.

“With King Printing, we’ve been able to offer global publishers a flexible solution to their logistics challenges,” Emanuele said. “It’s been a win-win for everyone involved.”

PageWide: The Technology Behind the Transformation

The global book publishing market is undergoing significant change. Publishers and retailers, including HarperCollins, Penguin Random House and Hachette Book Group, are working to reduce inventory, improve forecasting and shift to digital-first production.

As these trends accelerate, King Printing and Rotolito are uniquely positioned to help publishers adapt.

“PageWide presses allow us to produce high-quality books efficiently, whether it’s a single copy or thousands,” Adi said. “Publishers can trust us to deliver the same level of quality and precision, whether the books are printed in Milan or Boston.”

Emanuele said Rotolito has embraced short-run printing as a major growth area. “As we grew, clients came to us with lots of short-run work,” he said. “They asked if we could do things like catalogs, schoolbooks and illustrated books. We said yes to everything. And in time, the overall print quality and productivity of our inkjet machines has grown.”

Their use of HP PageWide technology also aligns with their sustainability goals. With reduced waste and efficient production processes, both companies are helping publishers minimize environmental impact.

A Vision for the Future, Built on Trust

Beyond technology and business strategy, the partnership between King Printing and Rotolito is grounded in a shared vision and mutual respect. Both companies draw strength from their roots as family businesses, guided by the values instilled by their founders.

“Partnerships like ours show what’s possible when you combine trust with the right technology,” Adi said. “We’ve been able to support our clients’ needs globally in ways that weren’t feasible before, and it’s exciting to think about what we can accomplish next.”

Emanuele echoed that sentiment, adding, “What started as a simple meeting has turned into a valuable relationship. It’s not just about business — it’s about being part of a community that values progress and collaboration.”

Thanks to their partnership and the tools provided by HP PageWide technology, King Printing and Rotolito continue to push boundaries in the global book publishing market.