Quad/Graphics, Inc., which has expanded its digital book production capacity by more than 500 percent this year, announces a new agreement with Penguin Group (USA) Inc., one of the leading U.S. adult and children’s trade book publishers, for short-run and print-on-demand production of Penguin’s U.S. trade hardcover, trade paperback and mass market books. The agreement covers all of Penguin’s imprints.

“Our digital book printing operations are growing because they provide publishers – and their readers – a solution to many traditional book inventory challenges,” says Joel Quadracci, Quad/Graphics Chairman, President & CEO. “For Penguin, we will be able to support a ‘virtual inventory’ model for select titles within the agreement that can be printed in small quantities efficiently and on-demand. Penguin has been a leader in this area of book production, and our ability to work together with Penguin makes us partners in innovation that redefines how many books will be ordered, produced and distributed in the future.”

Doug Whiteman, Penguin Group (USA)’s Executive Vice President of Business Operations, says Penguin will use Quad’s digital book production and supporting systems to lower inventory costs, react to demand more quickly and better serve its customers. “In recent years, we have taken steps to address the area of excess inventory and its resulting impact on the value chain,” Whiteman said. “This new agreement with Quad allows us to take another significant step in that process while also providing our customers greater access to more titles.”