Espresso Book Machine Pilot
Morgan James Publishing’s printing partner, Ingram owned Lightning Source, has launched an Espresso Book Machine pilot program, done in conjunction with On Demand Books, through which select publishers will be able to offer their customers the opportunity to print their titles on the Espresso machines located in bookstores.
The pilot program expands on Lightning’s previously announced partnership with On Demand Books, the company that makes the EBM, a device that works like a copier for books, printing and binding them in a few minutes.
Publishers participating in the pilot, culled from among Lightning’s clients, include Simon & Schuster, John Wiley & Sons, Hachette Book Group, McGraw-Hill, Macmillan, University of California Press, Morgan James and Norton. Through the program some 85,000 titles will be available at EBM locations across the country, starting next month.
According to On Demand Books, there are currently five Espresso machines in the U.S. (with 10 others in locations throughout Canada and the U.K.). This, though, will soon change. Dane Neller, CEO of On Demand, said that “within a relatively short period that number will be increasing dramatically.” On Demand is releasing a new model of the machine, version 2.0, which will print books faster–roughly four minutes for a 300-page book as opposed to eight minutes–and be offered at a lower price point. Neller added that the Espresso machine can now be leased as well. The 2.0 model will be on display at the London Book Fair.
Morgan James is cautiously optimistic about the Pilot and will be monitoring its success carefully with Lightning Source. We’d love to get your feedback on the concept. Watch the video below and let us know what you think.
A demonstration of the EBM, Version 2.0
Let’s take it one more step. Let me layout my book on your website, in your software, instead of first drafting it on my computer then re-drafting it into book publishing format. It would be more efficient to eliminate that first step. Layout the book on your website, then send it straight to this machine. Efficiency at its highest.
I have written so much in my life; honestly, I could draft it straight into book form if I just had the software.
Sounds good. Did you know that we are already doing that under our Self Publishing imprint? The DIY (do it yourself) option of Persona Publishing has that very option. The only thing is, the self publishing imprint is not currently participating in this pilot and we are not sure of the go live date for the imprint under the EBM program.
Wow, certainly there is no arguing that the future of distribution is on-demand… whether digital or physical copies. That machine is an impressive step in that direction.
How do I get my book Formation Generation included so it would be available on the Espresso Machine?
Robert Kurz
Author – Formation Generation
Thanks for your comment. Right now those details are yet to be worked out exactly, however if your book is published with one of the mentioned publishers, specifically Morgan James, it may be included automatically.