Gomer Press: 133 Years of Welsh Printing Innovation

Gomer was developed in 1892 by Lewis’ great-grandfather. Today, the business specialises in case-bound hardbacks, primarily for London-based clients such as the Royal Academy, Folio Culture and art galleries. Turnover is ₤ 5.5 m and the company employs around 50 people.

A Family Tradition in Printing

“When I was a young kid, back in the 1960s, I made use of to go on my very own to the manufacturing facility, which had to do with 50 metres from my home, and run around. I bear in mind the odor of the lead and the sound of the wheels,” says Jonathan Lewis, handling director of Gomer Press, based in Llandysul, mid-Wales.

I think it simply adds to a publication having the side published in a great pattern,” says Lewis, before excitedly clarifying they are regarding to take delivery of a new machine that can do find UV and aluminum foil stopping in one pass.

Innovation and Technology

Today, Gomer’s books are created on a B1 Heidelberg XL106 LE-UV developing press and Kolbus binding line. I believe it just includes to a book having the side published in a nice pattern,” says Lewis, prior to excitedly explaining they are concerning to take distribution of a new device that can do spot UV and aluminum foil stopping in one pass.

Gomer Press has been a household company for 133 years, yet the future generation is currently not thinking about taking control of. “My children both reside in Cardiff and, unfortunately, they’re enjoying it way too much,” he says. “I’m not going to press them, yet if they said they would certainly expensive returning, then fine.”

Lewis is talking to The Bookseller fresh from winning Printweek’s Book Printer of the Year award. We’re always aiming to try and generate high-grade job and create points that are different,” he says.

Challenges and Changes

Lewis took over from his daddy in the mid-1990s and has actually managed big modifications at Gomer. Lewis– that studied at the London College of Printing– chose to shut the publishing arm, which had been going for 66 years. We wanted to focus on printing,” he says.

It may have altered locations, however Lewis still lives a couple of hundred metres from the Gomer manufacturing facility. He places his two pennies-worth in when he believes I’m doing the incorrect thing,” Lewis claims, laughing.

Welsh printers have a lengthy practice as authors and Lewis says there made use of to be numerous printers in South Wales along the M4 hallway, yet several closed after the Covid-19 lockdown. Gomer was when the largest author in Wales, specialising in Welsh-language books for libraries and institutions. It was Lewis’ grandfather who made a decision to add publishing to the business, obtaining an Aberystwyth-based firm after the Second Globe Battle, yet Lewis was “never much thinking about publishing”.

The Early Days of Gomer Press

The initial 2 books printed by Gomer are dated 1894 and 1896. “My dad tells me when they published on a letterpress, each letter was picked up by hand, one at a time. It was a tiresome and lengthy work. I don’t know how many web pages someone would manage in a day, yet I would not have actually believed that numerous. We printed them on our old premises in Llandysul, and sent them off to someone else to do the binding,” he states.

It might have altered locations, but Lewis still lives a couple of hundred metres from the Gomer manufacturing facility. It remains a family members event. “My papa is 93 and he comes in every day. He has a regimen: he comes in, has a cup of tea and has a look around the manufacturing facility. He pops in to see me and simply checks every little thing is okay.” Is he still involved in running business? “Not any longer. He places his two pennies-worth in when he thinks I’m doing the incorrect thing,” Lewis says, laughing.

Welsh printers have a lengthy tradition as publishers and Lewis states there made use of to be several printers in South Wales along the M4 corridor, but numerous shut after the Covid-19 lockdown. It was Lewis’ grandfather who determined to add releasing to the service, acquiring an Aberystwyth-based firm after the Second Globe War, but Lewis was “never much interested in posting”.