Flexpress, Leicester, has taken another step towards highly automated end to end production with the addition of a Horizon HT-300 iCE TRIMMER from Intelligent Finishing Systems

The trimmer works with a Horizon BQ-500 iCE perfect binder to create a highly responsive book production solution.

“With skilled staff in ever-shorter supply and margins constantly squeezed, we do everything we can at Flexpress to produce work quickly, accurately and cost effectively by investing whatever and whenever we can into becoming more efficient,” explains Steve Wenlock, Managing Director. “The HT-300 is a perfect example as it enables us to turn what otherwise would have been two individual jobs into one streamlined process whilst gaining productivity as opposed to losing it.”

He adds: “Initially we considered having the trimmer nearline rather than fully connected, but within a few examples of seeing books come off the end of the perfect binding line fully finished with no intervention, we knew we’d made the right choice. We’ve seen immediate improvements in productivity made possible by utilising staff elsewhere in the business and it’s stopped us having to juggle staff, or jobs around to trim books.”

He continues: “It frees up valuable staff time to focus on other areas of the business that we’re currently unable to automate.”

Flexpress also has a number of other systems with iCE LiNK connectivity and is in the process of rebuilding its internal software systems to maximise the information iCE LiNK provides to help make more informed decisions.

Steve adds: “In this age, good information drives good decisions, so connected systems give you the power to analyse data more thoroughly and alert you to ways of making improvements.”

The HT-300 next generation single-knife three-side trimmer features greater automation supporting higher productivity for short and medium runs. It delivers variable production at up to 300 cycles per hour while accurate and clean cuts are achieved with precision automation. New features include auto book thickness measuring and table angle adjustment. It also offers versatile application possibilities by processing 6- and 8-page flap covers.

It is pre-installed with Horizon’s cloud-based iCE LiNK workflow that provides access to an intuitive easy to use dashboard that reports real-time production analysis for improved efficiency and profitability, remote update capabilities and scheduled maintenance resulting in less downtime.

The latest investment joins the Horizon BQ-500 perfect binder as well as a Horizon StitchLiner MKIII, a Horizon BQ-280 PUR single clamp perfect binder, a Horizon HT-30C three-sided trimmer, a Horizon CRF 362 creaser folder and a Horizon AFC-566 folder.

Alongside books Flexpress produces a range of commercial print including booklets, manuals and presentation folders on LED UV lithographic presses up to SRA1 and HP Indigos up to B2.