Lincoln operation Imprint Colour Printers says the addition of an Intelligent Finishing Systems-supplied Horizon SPF/FC-200A bookletmaker to its bindery has helped safeguard its future and boost production capabilities.
The £750,000 turnover general commercial firm that serves a wide range of blue chip and local businesses has also been able to eliminate outsourcing costs and expects to dramatically reduce overtime.
Explains works manager Will Richardson: “We have seen huge interest in customers wanting 12-page or 16 page booklets. We recently had a job that was 60,000 12-page booklets. Previously that would have taken us forever to do or we would have sent it out – but with the new Horizon we completed it in a matter of hours.”
The move was also made at the same time the company bought the local Kall Kwik franchise retaining the customer base: “We had an aging bookletmaker and needed something that could improve what we could offer in-house and increase our capacity. We looked at other systems but liked the Horizon because of its robust build quality, job memory storage and ease of set up.”
And the investment has increased booklet production speed by 25%: “We are already seeing these jobs take less time to complete, in some cases this can save us as much as a quarter of the old time. We expect to make our money back in two years.”
Mr Richardson says it is hoped the investment will help the company improve its annual turnover but, more importantly, retain business and even win new work from existing customers: “We can do more jobs in-house,” he says. “And that saves us time and money and there is no need for so much overtime. We are now in a very good position to grow. We are increasing our capacity and in turn our profitability to grow from strength to strength with the help of Horizon and IFS.”
The 4,500bph JDF-ready SPF/FC-200A features 200-programme job memory storage for instant recall and icon-based touch-screen for job set-up. It is equipped with a 10-station VAC-Turbo 100 PowerCollator. The patented Horizon advanced suction rotor drum feeding system operates effectively on a wide variety of paper stocks at high speeds. Accuracy and reliability are assured by mis-feed, double feed and jamming sensors on each bin and the feed error history can be monitored via the touchscreen.
