Anchor Distributors and Bethany Press are joining forces to launch a print-on-demand (POD) service.

The partnership follows a similar move by STL Distribution North America, which recently unveiled its POD service run with technology provider Snowfall Press and printer Dickinson Press.

Anchor Distributors Vice President John Whitaker said that the equipment being installed at the wholesaler's warehouse in New Kensington, Pa., should be operational from April 1.

"We are excited to be doing this and believe that it will be a help to retailers and publishers," he said. The POD operation will give stores access to out-of-print titles and provide low print-run opportunities for publishers. "The bottom line is that the books are available for ministry," Whitaker told Christian Retailing.

Bethany Press is leasing space at the Anchor facility—where a temperature-controlled section has been created to house the equipment—and will run the line, with Anchor fulfilling the distribution.

A major printer for Christian publishers, producing 20 million paperbacks a year, Bethany Press has been offering short-run digital publishing at its Bloomington, Minn., plant for a year. The organization—whose profits go to support missionary programs—had been pleased to collaborate with Anchor on the POD service, said President and CEO John DePree.

"We exist to transform the world for Jesus, and they are an organization that does so as well," he said. "This collaboration is one that starts first with values—our visions align."

Bethany Press recently installed a high-capacity digital manufacturing line at its Bloomington headquarters that has tripled its existing digital publishing capacity.

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