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Greifswald's copy shop closes: Concerns about students are growing!
Greifswalder Copyshop closes: After 35 years, Holger Behrndt ends the business. In the future, students will have to print in Rambin.
Greifswald's copy shop closes: Concerns about students are growing!
The end of a chapter is approaching for many students in Greifswald: The copy shop “Dokuteam-x” will close its doors on November 21st. The operator Holger Behrndt (65), who is retiring after 35 years, regrets the decision, but the circumstances leave him no choice. “The classic copy shop model has reached its economic limits,” explains Behrndt in an interview. Although a successor has been found for Behrndt & Herud GmbH, the new owner will give up the copy shop.
The rising costs of personnel and materials as well as the unstoppable digitalization process have put the business model under considerable pressure. Behrndt, whose main business area is the maintenance and distribution of Xerox printers, reports that many devices come from previous leases and are serviced by three technicians. Unfortunately, four employees have to lose their jobs, while the three technicians remain part of the company.
The relevance for students
The closure has a direct impact on the students of Greifswald University, who require double binding of their documents for their theses. Linda Schneider, who is responsible for service in the copy shop, emphasizes how important it is to adhere to the formalities when printing. “We had a personal and fast service that was often in demand,” she says. Law student Jason Zenke expresses concern about the impending closure of the copy shop. “I regularly print study sheets and now I have to come up with something new,” says Zenke. In the future, students will have to submit their print orders to the neighboring Rambin on Rügen, where another copy shop will remain.
Innovative online service providers now offer alternatives to traditional printing. At printing-for-students.de Students can easily upload their theses digitally and decide whether they want to pick them up or hand them in directly to the responsible examination office. The printing and binding time is usually no more than a day. In addition, emphasis is placed on sustainable materials, such as eco-friendly paper, and CO2 compensation by planting trees is also offered.
A look into the future of the printing industry
The challenges facing the copy shop are not unique. The current one Print Horizons Report 2024 highlights that digitalization and sustainability are the driving forces in the printing industry. The shift to digital technologies is forcing print service providers to automate and adapt their workflows. At a time when inkjet technology and web-to-print are becoming increasingly important, traditional business models are becoming increasingly challenged.
Printing companies are required to not only invest in new technologies, but also to digitize their business processes. This is seen as crucial to future success. The next drupa trade fair, taking place from May 28 to June 7, 2024, will be an ideal forum to discuss these developments and present new solutions.
Given the differences in the printing landscape, it remains to be seen how the industry will respond. The closure of “Dokuteam-x” is a small part of a larger change that presents both challenges and opportunities.