Colt Press has streamlined workflow and enhanced the efficiency of its digital print department following investment in a Horizon CRF-362 Creaser Folder from IFS.

The Essex business was established in the 1980s and the essence of its operation is its can-do attitude for every job and every client. It manages a wide range of general commercial print on a Heidelberg Speedmaster XL75 with Inpress Control colour management system and a Ricoh Pro C9100.

Managing Director Paul Haddow explains the decision to invest in the Horizon CRF-362 Creaser Folder: “We had an older creaser but we wanted something to fold and crease more responsively alongside our digital press. Now we don’t have to move work to the main bindery area and we don’t have to interrupt production on the bigger folder. It helps us to manage short run jobs more effectively and enables us to work more efficiently while adhering to social distancing guidelines.”

Mr Haddow did consider other options before making his choice. He said: “The Horizon CRF-362 Creaser Folder is more suited to the type of work that we do and can complete the multiple creases we needed. It is able to crease up and down folds and handle a longer sheet as well. It provides us with much greater production flexibility.”

The Horizon CRF-362 creases and folds in one pass a wide range of light and heavy weight stocks, coated or uncoated. Capable of up to ten crease lines on a sheet, it uses an impact scoring technology that eliminates or minimizes cracking of the stock or printed image. Set-up and changeovers – including fold pattern, creasing number, and up/down crease selection – are completed on the high resolution intuitive color touch screen.

“It has been up and running from day one,” he adds. “We were using it a couple hours after training. It has proven to be very robust and reliable. Everyone seems to be very happy using it.”