PBL Print Improves Responsiveness with StitchLiner 6000
Chester-le-Street firm removes bottlenecks for faster throughput on short-run work

PBL Print has completed an operational review to make it more responsive to short turnaround work with investment in a Horizon StitchLiner 6000 from Intelligent Finishing Systems.

The Chester-le-Street operation specialises public sector clientel with half of its work for the NHS and the rest focussing on public sector organisations such as universities and the police. It recently added to its pressroom firepower of four B2 and B3 Heidelberg presses with a Linoprint digital press.

“We needed to speed up our booklet production as we were getting backlogs that were creating bottlenecks and resulting in the need for overtime,” comments Eric Stevenson Managing Director of the £4m turnover firm.

“Runs are getting shorter and shorter so we bought the Linoprint for work that wasn’t as profitable to run on the Heidelberg presses,” states Mr Stevenson. “Now we can cover all our bases as far as orders are concerned.

“Then we needed a faster finishing solution that was quick to set up for the short runs. We liked the StitchLiner 6000 because we can interrupt long run work to complete quick turnarounds.

“For us ease of set up, ease of use and productivity were the main benefits. We looked at the StitchLiner 6000 at The Printroom in Liverpool and we knew it would be perfect for us.

Mr Stevenson adds: “Another benefit of the StitchLiner 6000 is the books are much flatter which improves their overall appearance, makes packing easier and enables us to get more in a box for easier transportation.”

The StitchLiner 6000 replaces SPF 200A/FC-200A bookletmaker. It incorporates a centre knife in the three-knife trimmer to double running speed to 12,000bph in two-up production. Its new landscape feeding and straight saddle-stitching flow enables the smooth production of thinner paper stock and larger, landscape-oriented sheets.