History of printing - printing industry in the Czech Republic

The history of printing in the Czech Republic and Central Europe

J. K. Frank at typesetting machine in 1910

Our country, the Czech Republic, is famous for its beer, glass, Škoda cars, or the magnificent architecture of Prague, but – at least for the people familiar with the graphic industry - also for the production of printing and finishing equipment (Adast Dominant, Polly - currently KBA branch based in Dobruska, Adast Maxima guillotines, Soma rewinders, etc. producers). 

Czech Republic was, besides Eastern Germany, the main industrial base of the Eastern block. As such, it followed the technologically very developed first Czechoslovakia Republic, which itself was a descendant of the most industrially developed part of the Austrian monarchy in the end of the 19th century. 

For this reason, even today, there is a tradition of not only an industrial production of many products, but also of the craft of good mechanics, servicemen and printing machines repairmen in Czech Republic. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, Czech printers took more care of their machines than it was usual in the countries around, they paid more attention to the quality and regular service and such a tradition survived even the difficult period of socialist experiment and was fully brought back to life with the arrival of market economy after the Velvet Revolution in 1989. 

This favourable trend was supported mainly by the fact that Czechoslovakia and subsequently Czech Republic was, besides the eastern part of Germany, the only country of the former socialist block where printing and binding machines, after supplying not only the whole Soviet block, but also some developing countries (e.g. India), were produced in large series. In addition, many printing high or training schools produced many qualified technicians, mechanics and instructors. 

Despite of the fact that many companies dissolved (Adast) or changed their owner (Grafitec Polly - KBA) in the last ten years, a very solid level of the maintenance or service has been preserved until now. For this reason, used machines from Czech Republic are comparable, when it comes to their quality, to the machines from the Western Europe. 

The positive aspect is that the situation in countries around Czech Republic, the former members of Eastern Block (Slovakia, Poland, Hungary), whose machines we also offer, has changed for the better and the new machines bought in those countries in the last twenty years are today, from the technical viewpoint, in the condition comparable with the Western Europe. It is given by the increasing requirements on the quality of print and with the increasing demand for the regular high quality service. 

We believe that right for these reasons, you do not have to be worried about buying a used machine from the countries mentioned. Our company complies with the increasing requirements on services related to choosing, assessment/evaluation and supply of a used machine and wants to be your respectable partner in this direction.

Source: History of Printing Industry in Czech Republic

Printing techniques

Articles about printing techniques

On the website Machinery Europe, we have created a new section of articles about printing techniques and their use in the Czech Republic and Central Europe.

Machinery Europe - Printing Machines

The Leading Dealer of used Printing and Binding Machines in Central Europe

MACHINERY EUROPE s.r.o. (former Polygrafické stroje s.r.o.) is the Czech leading company on the market for used printing and binding machines in Central Europe. The foundations of our company were laid in 2000, when a family enterprise of the current owner David Frank engaged in printing production has been reoriented to the area of trading with used printing, binding, and finishing equipment. Despite of the fact that, compared internationally, we are relatively young firm, during the twelve years of our existence we have slowly risen up to the level of the main players not only of the Czech, but also of the Middle Europe region. We are one of the few main operators in our area, who can purchase and sell complete inventories, and provide move full services.

Our company is based in Prague 4 – Roztyly and also our storing space is to be found in Prague, in its parts called Stodůlky and Horní Počernice.