S T Reddiar and Sons (STRS), a century-old printing establishment in Kerala has installed two new Komoris - a commercial heatset web offset machine System 35 and a Lithrone S40 sheetfed press along with Muller Martini book-binding systems to improve efficiency and quality.

STRS has also taken a step towards adopting environmental responsibilities. R Suresh, chief executive at STRS, said: "We have been making efforts to minimise paper waste and allow for more efficient plant operations. With the System 35, we will continue our green efforts."

The four-colour presses - System 35 with a folder and sheeter, the Lithrone S40 with an in-built analog coater unit - and the Muller Martini machinery have been installed at their new facility in Kakkanad in Ernakulam district. The Komori installations are the first in Kerala.

The Muller Martini book-binding machinery includes a six-station saddle stitcher with an online three-way trimmer, five-clamp perfect binder and a section sewing machine. Suresh added: "This is the new trend. Other countries have started printing on heatset web offset printing since it is more economical and ideal for colour printing of magazines, supplements, school textbooks, and similar applications."

STRS produces calendars, brochures, booklets, pamphlets, annual reports, magazines, books and advertising materials.

"We are enlarging our short-run and long-run capabilities to produce high quality commercial printing and at the same time giving our clients the latest in colour reproduction technology," Suresh said.

The Muller Martini book binding machineries will complement the presses and "improve operations".