The slitter and stacker was developed specifically to run inline with the HP Indigo 10000 digital B2 press, but will also be available from UK distributor IFS for use as a near line system with other B2 digital sheetfed presses.

The 4,500sph SmartStacker gathers B2 digitally-printed sheets into sets, book blocks or individual sheets ready for downstream processing with no manual input or guillotine attachment.

Sheets can be slit up to seven times in one direction and four in the other - all with gutters/bleed - to create up to 28 sub-sheets at a minimal A6 size; the individual elements are then collated into the correct sequence at an intelligent merging station.

Horizon collaborated with HP to develop a Finishing Line Controller to communicate between the SmartStacker and Indigo 10000 for a fully automated JDF set-up.

This allows the machine to automatically set itself to the requirements of incoming sheets, even to the point of picking out and ejecting planned-in blank pages/sub-sheets not required for the end product's pagination.

The SmartStacker can handle paper stock from 65gsm to 400gsm; it can also be programmed manually via an HD touchscreen.

The Smartstacker can be integrated for downstream applications with the Horizon StitchLiner 6000D, StitchLiner 5500, the SPF/FC200L landscape A4 book production line and Horizon AF/FC automated folding machines and perfect binding systems such as the BQ-270 and BQ-470.

IFS joint managing director Bryan Godwyn said: "With B2 digital printing now a commercial reality, Smartstacker has been created specifically to ensure high quality, fast turnaround print is completed efficiently, while also reducing costs by boosting productivity and profit.

"I believe it a mould-breaking solution that will become the first name on the teamsheet in any B2 digital press owner’s post-press line-up."