Ashford Colour Press has invested in a Horizon HT-30 three-side trimmer from Intelligent Finishing Systems to aid flexible production in its bindery.

The Gosport firm is a specialist in quality, fast turnaround printing and related services for books, magazines, brochures and all bound publications. It also provides point of sale print plus specialist packaging and marketing materials. It runs Heidelberg and KBA litho presses, two HP T230 colour inkjet web presses and a Ricoh Pro C9100 sheetfed digital press.

It chose the new system to run nearline to a Horizon BQ-470 four-clamp perfect binder.

Production Manager Simon Tiller explains: “We bought the Horizon HT30C to support production on the BQ470. We were increasingly being asked to meet faster turnaround times and to handle a wider range of quantities and sizes. Running the trimmer nearline means we can be more productive and responsive. The two systems together can handle the shorter runs while the other binders look after the longer runs.

He continues: “It is very easy to use and quick to set up. We had the Horizon binder and the trimmer uses the same touchscreen set up with prompts the operators know. This made training fast and will also enable new operators to get up to speed very quickly.  It also has the soft drop delivery so every book is finished to the highest quality.

The Horizon HT30 three-side trimmer features automated job set-ups and quick changeovers with the ability to store up to 40 different book jobs in memory. It operates off-line to trim perfect bound books at speeds up to 200 cycles per hour. A colour touch screen allows all set-ups to be performed with full automation.

“We are pleased with it so far,” Tiller adds: “It does exactly what is says on the tin. It has done everything we have asked it to do.”