The machine, which was installed at the Wembley, London-based company’s 465sqm premises around three months ago, was supplied by Intelligent Finishing Systems (IFS) and cost around £20,000.

The CRF-362 creases and folds a wide range of light- and heavy-weight stocks, coated or uncoated, in one pass. Capable of up to 10 crease lines on a sheet, it uses an impact scoring technology that eliminates or minimises cracking of the stock or printed image, according to IFS.

The device has enabled Abacus Print to more easily process heavier stocks that previously required both creasing, on an existing Morgana machine, and additional hand finishing.

“It made sense to look at a system that could manage both steps,” said managing director Jonathan Luck.

“We looked at other available machines and manufacturers, but we went with IFS because the Horizon machine was best suited to the varied sort of work that we do. The demonstration and installation went superbly, and they didn’t put undue pressure on us.”

He added: “The beauty of this machine is that it’s so versatile – you’ve got the different widths of creases, you can crease from both directions of the sheet and it’s coming out folded as well, which is an added bonus.

“The speed of setting it up is also very pleasing; it’s very user friendly and is saving us a huge amount of time.”

While Abacus Print handles some commercial jobs, trade customers and design agencies make up around 70% of its work.

The company, which has five staff and a turnover of close to £750,000, also operates Heidelberg GTO and Printmaster litho presses, a Mimaki JV33 wide-format printer and a Linoprint CV digital printer from Heidelberg that was installed in 2015.

It is considering taking on an additional digital printer and expanding into larger premises in the future.