For the first time in Iraq: "Dar Al-Kafeel for printing, publishing and distribution" brings the German technology, the technical binding line (Hard Cover)..

"Dar Al-Kafeel for printing, publishing and distribution" of the Al-Abbas's (p) holy shrine has held on the morning of Thursday the 19th of Rabi' At-Thani 1436 AH, corresponding to the 19th of February, 2015 the opening ceremony for the new print line brought for the first time in Iraq as a complement to the printing lines used by the Printing House, with the same technique of the German Company Heidelberg. The new line is the technical binding line (Hard Cover), for which it was necessary to accomplish in other Arab countries previously.

The ceremony started with verses of the Holy Quran and was attended by the representatives of the holy shrine in Iraq and the Shiite Endowment, Iraq parliamentarians and representatives of the local government in Karbala, as well as the Secretary-General of the Al-Abbas's (p) holy shrine and a number of its employees and representatives of the executing company in addition to guests from inside and outside the holy city of Karbala.

The ceremony included the speech of the Secretary-General of the Al-Abbas's (p) holy shrine, Sayed Ahmed Al-Safi, in which he stated: "It is no secret that the printing is not new to the holy city of Karbala, as it started here since the end of the nineteenth century, but the events that have succeeded on Iraq, as result of reckless policies sciences and knowledge have been fought, especially the printing as it is a mean that eases to the thinker, writer or researcher to convey what he has to others, and consequently the country has to pay a lot for its hindrance..."

Followed by the word of Mr. Maytham Al-Zaydi, the supervisor of the printing House, in which he stated: "We, at Dar Al-Kafeel, all respect and cherish the great role of the Secretariat-General of the Al-Abbas's (p) holy shrine for its unlimited support for the success of this unique project. And, our negotiating delegation succeeded to conclude a contract with German company of Heidelberg, as it is the first time that an Iraqi institution sign a contract with this company."

Adding: "The implementation period was of eleven months, and since our printing House is composed of modern printing lines, which requires a continuous follow-up for its updates and the introduction of all that is new in order to progress its layout level. The technical binding line is a complementary line that gives the book an additional elegance, and which is considered an extension to our semi-automatic layout line. We hope that in the near-term we can complete the writing of the Holy Quran so its printing and binding will be made in our printing press in our beloved country."

Mr. Al-Zaydi concluded his speech saying: "During the last year and half, Dar Al-Kafeel has printed more than one thousand titles of various cultural and religious fields, master thesis and many books, either those made and published by the holy shrines, or those made and presented by the state institutions, publishers and intellectuals. We have also printed more 116 titles within 90 days for the Iraqi Ministry of Education, at the time the state budget was stopped and there was no cash. We are ready to embrace everything that would give a support to the state institutions and to the movement of thought, knowledge and culture in the country with very suitable prices and at high quality."

Then came the word of the German company "HeidelBerg" delivered by its representative, Mr. Ali Zaytoon, in which he said: "We congratulate those in charge of the Al-Abbas's (p) holy shrine for the success of the first phase of this project and, God willing, the second phase will be completed at the best levels, and our project is only a part of this dynamic and large-scale project, which is using high-quality techniques, as this line (technical binding "hard cover") is characterized by technical specifications notably that for the first time this line exists in Iraq, thanks to the Al-Abbas's (p) holy shrine and those in charge of this project. Through this technical line it is possible to manufacture the cover (DA260) at 40 rpm, and a power production capacity of 2400 covers per hour, it function is to extend the cardboard material on the cloth or on the leather.

This line is also composed of other machine, as this line consists of a set of machinery and equipment, among them the machine of binding the book with cover (BF 512), which is several units built in one line: The unit of rotating the book, the unit of the clutch installation, the unit of the gauze installation, the unit of lining the cover and the unit of the thermal pressing to finalise the cover. This machine is characterized by a speed of 30 rpm with a production capacity of 1800 books per hour. And, as a company that has interesting expertise in the processing, installation and maintenance of printing devices, we aspire to expand this project and to provide all the technical and logistical support. "

The attendees then went to cut the ribbon for the opening of this productive line, and they have listened to a detailed explanation about the devices and equipment that compose it, and assisted directly to its production. The ceremony was concluded by the distribution of gifts and appreciation certificates to all of those who have contributed to the completion of this project.