Successful growth of uphotobooks.com, a joint venture between Unibind and The Printed Word, has prompted investment in an Intelligent Finishing Systems-supplied Foliant Gemini 400A laminator.

The West Sussex printer joined forces with the binding finishing solutions specialist in 2012 to launch the online service. Orders have since grown steadily year on year and so too has demand for lamination.

Explains The Printed Word director David Pryer: “We had a hand fed laminator but were still needing to outsource some jobs which meant a minimum charge and turnaround times of up to two days. We looked at replacing the system we had around 18 months ago but the volumes were not there. As soon as the website drove increased demand the time was right to make the investment.”

There were a number of reasons the Gemini was chosen states Mr Pryer: “We looked at other systems but immediately liked the Gemini because it ran the right paperweight. As we have a couple of the UK’s only Unibind casemaking solutions that run 120gsm uncoated stock we needed a system that could handle that paper weight. The Gemini did. It also has an extension capability that can cut and laminate six-page work.”

He continues: “It is going to be a quick return investment for us. Not only have we been able to bring all out outsourced lamination in-house but we can now laminate business cards in-house too and that saves us sending work out. We can be more cost effective and efficient with those orders.”

The entry level 15 mpm Foliant Gemini 400A, is a fully automatic high pressure laminating machine (feeder, laminator and separator) with an operating width of 380 mm. With a fast warm up and interactive touch screen, it is equipped with a pneumatic system of laminating rollers pressure with an easy thrust control. A small compressor is integrated inside the machine frame.

He concludes: “It was the right time for us to invest in a system that has helped us streamline production to meet increased volumes.”