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Kolbus - World Leaders in Bookbinding

03:25

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Sebastian KatzerApril 20, 2011

Every third book in the world is bound using machines produced by the German company Kolbus, based in Rahden in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Nearly everything from Harry Potter to the local phone book runs across their conveyor belts.

The family firm was founded as a blacksmiths in 1775, changing to bookbinding in 1900 as the horse-and-buggy days waned. But technology is changing yet again, and Kolbus has to work hard to stay relevant in the digital age.

Report by Julia Henrichmann.

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