By staff reporter Zhou Jing

Who is the world's largest Bible printers, and where is it to be found? We might guess at anywhere other than China. But it is in fact in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province.

An employee checks the cover and the general quality of a book in the Nanjing Amity Printworks.

Nanjing Amity Printing Company is now the world's largest Bible printer and by the end of May, 49 million of Amity Printing's total output of 69 million copies are slated for the domestic Chinese market, the company told China.org.cn.

Amity Printing is a joint venture between Amity Foundation and the United Bible Societies (UBS). As a result of discussions between the UBS and Chinese Christian leaders of the day, Bishop K. H. Ting and the UBS signed a memorandum of understanding that led to the establishment of the printing plant. The company was subsequently founded in 1988 with an ongoing mission and priority to serve the Christian Church in China.

So far, the bibles have been sent to more than 70 countries and regions in nearly 80 different languages such as English, German, Spanish, French and many African languages. Amity also print Bibles in eight different Chinese minority languages: Korean, Miao, Va, Dai, Yi, Lisu, Lagu and Jingpo; and another thing worth mentioning is that 1840 copies of the Braille Bible have been produced and marketed. The Bibles are distributed to more than 50,000 churches and meeting points through 65 distribution centers.

From January to May this year, around 4.5 million copies were printed, 2.5 million of which were exported overseas. The total turnover of the company reached 180 million yuan (US$26.35 million) in 2008, and the target for this year is 220 million yuan (US$32.20 million), a target which should be eminently attainable as orders are arriving in good number, the company said.

"Though the company functions very well, we do face challenges. South Korean companies are our main competitors because they have better printing technologies and more delicate finishing," says She Hongyu, assistant to the company's chief.

"But we are well aware of the situation and strive to match the best international standards," she added, pointing out that the company has been certified with the ISO9001 Quality Standard, ISO14001 Environmental Standard and OHSAS18001 Professional Health Safety Management Standard.

Printed Bibles in the Nanjing Amity Printing Co. Ltd.

In 2008, phase 1 (37,000 square meters) of the company's 48,000 square-meter production facility was completed. Together with additional equipment this will raise their output capacity to over 12 million copies per year.

The Amity Foundation, an independent Chinese voluntary organization, was set up in 1985 at the initiative of Chinese Christians to promote education, social services, health and rural development from China's coastal provinces in the east to the minority areas of the west.

The United Bible Society is a fellowship of 145 national Bible Societies with a heritage that goes back over 200 years.