The Cannock-based commercial printer took delivery of a twin-tower Duplo iSaddle System last week, after signing for the machine at Duplo’s Northern Lights event in Leeds.
It then installed a Horizon BQ280 PUR binder, which it bought from Intelligent Finishing Systems (IFS), earlier this week.
The new devices follow the recent installation of two Ricoh machines, a C7100X and a C9100. The company also operates a Komori LS 529 B2 five-colour litho press and other finishing kit including laminators and guillotines.
The iSaddle System has replaced a Duplo System 5000, which has been part exchanged. It includes ultrasonic detectors, for solids and variable images, four stitching heads and a gutter knife for two-up production.
The device can produce A4 landscape-format brochures and books of up to 120pp. The maximum flat sheet size is 356x508mm with a minimum of 105x210mm or 174x254mm for a landscape format.
“The Duplo 5000 has been a trusty steed for the last nine years,” said KJB Print UK commercial director Stephen Egerton.
“We looked at several models and manufacturers, including the Horizon StitchLiner, but the iSaddle was brought in because of its ability to do the landscape A4 booklets, which supports our new Ricoh machines.”
He added: “The iSaddle is heavily utilised and running 85% of the time. The slightly additional speed over the 5000 will also help so we’re very pleased with it.”
The Horizon BQ280 PUR binder features a spine length of 385mm and up to 51mm thickness. It offers production speeds of up to 500 books per hour.
“The BQ280 is a brand new addition as we were outsourcing our PUR before. We were typically doing quite a lot of training manuals and annual reports which we were outsourcing to a variety of suppliers within our locality so this is effectively another insourcing plan.
“We have recently been awarded a contract for a top-end publication with very tight turnaround times to provide circa 40,000 to 50,000 PUR bound books on an annual basis.”
KJB Print UK, which has 27 staff and a turnover of just over £2m, serves clients ranging from blue-chip organisations to trade customers and end-users.
“We’re expecting around 30% annual growth in 2016 and are getting there. We have already won several large contracts,” said Egerton.
