Game-Changing Automation at Riccobono’s Hélio Print

How large-scale print automation powered the successful launch of Diverto Magazine

The Riccobono Group is a family-owned business with more than 120 years of history, now led by its fifth generation. Deeply rooted in the French graphic arts industry, the group operates across press, magazine production, finishing, and distribution.

Today, Riccobono employs 2,800 people across 12 production sites throughout France, delivering high-volume, high-quality print for publishers nationwide.

One of those business units is Hélio Print, a specialist in offset and heliographic printing, known for handling complex, large-scale production runs.

A High-Profile Test Case: Launching Diverto Magazine

On January 6, 2023, Diverto Magazine launched across France - an ambitious project that immediately put Hélio Print’s production systems to the test.

The launch involved:

• 3.2 million copies

• 38 unique covers

• Multiple print technologies

• Tight production timelines

The scale and complexity of the project made it an ideal proving ground for Hélio Print’s newly automated production workflows powered by DALIM SOFTWARE.

Driving Automation Across Print Production

Hélio Print had already begun a strategic shift toward automation, aiming to reduce manual intervention while improving speed, reliability, and transparency across production.

By integrating DALIM SOFTWARE into its environment, Hélio Print connected its ERP systems directly with print production workflows - enabling automated prechecks, real-time monitoring, and data-driven decision-making.

Anthony Richou, Technical Director at Hélio Print, explains:

“What stood out was DALIM SOFTWARE’s ability to push automation to a whole new level - beyond that of other vendors - providing the tools required for seamless communication between our ERP system and the production platform.”

Automation in Action: From Preflight to Production

The Diverto launch showcased how automation could transform publisher-printer collaboration at scale. DALIM-powered workflows enabled:

• Automated preliminary file checks

• Continuous production visibility

• Faster issue resolution

• Reduced reliance on manual handling

This allowed Hélio Print to manage a complex, multi-cover rollout with confidence—across both offset and heliographic printing processes.

Supporting Client Success Through Technology

Beyond internal efficiency, the project highlighted how automation can help printers guide publishers through large, complex launches.

Richou reflects on the broader impact:

“Providing guidance to the client proved successful, resulting in a notable double victory: smoothly navigating our own technical transformation and ensuring clients adapted seamlessly.”

The success of Diverto’s launch demonstrated not only technical capability, but also the value of transparent, data-driven collaboration between printer and publisher.

A Milestone in Modern Print Production

The collaboration between Hélio Print and DALIM SOFTWARE represents a significant step forward in modern print automation - showing how advanced workflows can support massive circulation volumes, complex variants, and demanding schedules without sacrificing quality or control.

It also reinforces the role of automation as a competitive differentiator for publishers and printers alike.