Cramlington based printing company, Potts Print UK, chose a Horizon AFC-566F folder from Intelligent Finishing Systems to support the short run work completed by its increasingly busy digital printing department.

“We are getting more and more short run jobs and needed a highly automated folder which had a fast make-ready, was simple to set up and was very flexible,” explains Brian Watson, Production Director.

The Horizon AFC-566F will handle work from two B1 Man Roland 700s, two B2 Heidelberg XLs, a Heidelberg SX and a SpeedMaster 52, as well as nine Xerox digital presses, including two iGen 150s.

The AFC-566F offers 17 fold patterns which are set up via an icon-based touchscreen. All roller gap settings are then performed automatically by inserting a single sheet at the calliper. The operation works with a range of private and public sector clients.

“We wanted a folder that had a very quick make-ready so that we could fold work from either our litho or digital presses,” continues Watson. “We liked the fact that it has job memory storage which means we can interrupt long run jobs with shorter run work. That makes us much more flexible in our day-to-day operation.

“We looked at other systems, but really liked the automation on the Horizon. It makes it easier for the staff to move around from one bindery service to another. They are already very comfortable operating it.”

As for the impact it is making on the business Mr Watson adds “Since the initial demonstration after installation it has not stopped running, folding over 2.5 million sheets in the first month alone! Finishing is much more efficient now and you can’t ask for more than that.”