Shenzhen Artron Color Printing Co, which is engaged in high-end printing, produces high-quality copies of art, including Chinese and oil paintings, in cooperation with domestic and foreign museums, art galleries and artists. It runs three art museums in Shenzhen, Beijing and Shanghai.

Printing firms write new path to profit

3D printing - a new favorite in 2014 CES

C & C Joint Printing Co (Guangdong) launched departments for radio frequency identification-based labels and cross-media businesses five years ago, launching products combining printing with augmented reality, electronic and information technology.

Its augmented reality products include books, product catalogs, toys, calendars, corporate annual reports and garments.

In recent years, the company has used automated production equipment to cut labor costs and invested in information technology to improve efficiency and offer value-added services in content management to clients.

Hong Kong-invested Heshan Astros Printing Ltd now offers interactive books and software, the kind of product that combines printing and digital media.

While big players have been investing in new technology and added-value products, some smaller companies have instead been emphasizing their environmentally friendly production processes.

In a notice issued in April 2012, publishers of primary and middle school textbooks were ordered to give their printing work to companies that have been certified as being environ-mentally friendly. The government has also ordered the promotion of "