Wolverhampton trade finisher A & M Ellis has added perfect binding to is portfolio of trade services following investment in a Horizon BQ470 four clamp perfect binder and an HT30 three side trimmer from Intelligent Finishing Systems.

The operation offering trade laminating, die cutting and wire-o binding expanded its capabilities after frequent requests for perfect PUR and EVA binding. Explains managing director Darren Ellis: “Customers were asking for us to be able to complete book work so we decided to make the investment.”

The results were immediate: “This investment has impacted the business from day one with regular work for perfect bound books streaming in.  It has helped us give our clients a more complete service from laminating book covers to actually binding the books and trimming to the finished size.”

He adds: “We needed an automated multi clamp binder and book trimmer to ensure we could offer a service to the customer base. The Horizon BQ470, with the HT-30, was the ideal solution and will help grow our client list as we can now offer short to medium PUR and EVA perfect binding runs.”

The Horizon system from IFS was chosen for a number of reasons states Mr Ellis: “It is easy to run with fast automated set ups and can switch between PUR and EVA binding. The 1,350 cycles per hour production speed was also a key consideration in our decision.”

He continues: “The level of automation was a massive plus. The ease of set up and ability to select jobs from a memory is just what we needed.  The BQ-470 is able to offer variable binding and make ready in seconds.  We can also get a good book first time, every time, so there is very minimal waste if any at all.”
Mr Ellis did look at options from other suppliers but Mr Ellis states: “Horizon just fitted the bill perfectly with its automation and multi clamp system.”

The 1,350 books per hour BQ470 fully-automated four-clamp perfect binder is easy to run with minimal operator training required and setup through the intuitive icon based LCD touchscreen. Equipped with two large application rollers for strong, high-quality binds and a separate side glue tank for added flexibility, it binds books up to 65mm thickness.