L.E.G.O. Group

Spreading culture through books is the mission of L.E.G.O. Group, which was founded in 1900 as a small artisan workshop by Pietro Olivotto. Today, L.E.G.O. is one of the leading European producers of high-quality books with Rosa Olivotto, Managing Director, at the helm. The company has a plant in Vicenza that specializes in sheetfed offset printing and produces hardcover books, and another in Lavis that runs web offset presses and manufactures perfect-bound products, including technical books, educational materials and manuals. In 2024, the L.E.G.O. Group produced more than 72 million copies of books. L.E.G.O. has maintained a partnership with Kodak since the 1990s, starting with the adoption of thermal CTP technology.

The L.E.G.O. Group recognized the need to optimize the processes in prepress and in the pressroom in order to adapt to the needs of a rapidly evolving international market environment. "The book market has changed. We do not aim to compete in the mass market but maintain our strategy of positioning ourselves in the mid-to-high-end product range, which offers high added value in terms of craftsmanship and technology," commented Rosa Olivotto. The production technology used by L.E.G.O. must align with the requirements of this strategic line. The L.E.G.O. Group also attaches great importance to environmental sustainability, which is reflected in numerous sustainability and chain of custody certifications and the use of 100% electricity from renewable sources at both printing facilities. The company is committed to continuously adopting more sustainable and resource-efficient practices in prepress, pressrooms, and bindery operations.

L.E.G.O. continues to rely on Kodak solutions for plate imaging, thanks to many years of consistently positive experiences with Kodak's thermal CTP technology. Currently, they utilize a KODAK MAGNUS VLF Platesetter, along with two 8-up models: a MAGNUS Q800 and a TRENDSETTER Q800. The highly reliable Kodak CTPs output hundreds of thousands of square meters of plates annually.

In line with its commitment to promoting sustainability, the L.E.G.O. Group has adopted KODAK SONORA Ultra Process Free Plates, representing the innovative pinnacle of Kodak's process-free technology, in both its sheetfed and web offset printing operations. By eliminating the water, electricity, and chemicals used in traditional plate processing, the switch to SONORA Ultra Plates has significantly enhanced the company's sustainability credentials while also reducing costs. "The introduction of the new SONORA Ultra Process Free Plates aligns perfectly with our sustainability strategy. It truly represents green technology," said Lorenzo Obrietan, Head of Procurement & Supply Chain.

The KODAK PRINERGY Platform is an indispensable technology and the lifeblood of L.E.G.O.'s multi-site prepress processes. In conjunction with PRINERGY, the company uses KODAK PREPS Imposition Software and the KODAK PRINERGY COLORFLOW Pro Software with Ink Optimizing Solution, which helps reduce ink consumption and improve print stability. Another important tool is the KODAK PRINERGY INSITE Prepress Portal, which customers can use to upload files directly into the PRINERGY workflow environment and smoothly handle proofing, correction and approval cycles. Lorenzo Obrietan noted: "PRINERGY is the undisputed leader in high-performance, automated workflow solutions for graphic arts companies. For us, it’s an essential tool because it perfectly integrates customer collaboration, imposition, color management and plate production."

Innovative Kodak print solutions have helped the L.E.G.O. Group remain at the forefront of the dynamic European book market for decades. By investing in advanced technologies, the company consistently meets publishers’ highest quality standards while ensuring short delivery times and sustainable production. Beyond efficient system solutions and consumables, the company relies on long-term partnerships with suppliers for mutual benefit. "Beyond the product, service is fundamental. We pass on our clients’ service expectations to our supply chain. In this sense, we seek partners, not just suppliers. Kodak has proven to be a true partner over the years," concluded Lorenzo Obrietan.

Article written by Chiarra Bezzi, Rassegna Grafica, Italy