Supplied by Intelligent Finishing Systems (IFS), the machine was installed in March and replaced an aging bookletmaker.

Managing director John Currie said the business chose the SPF-200L after viewing the device at a trade show and being impressed with its capabilities, particularly the flexibility of the work it can produce and its ability to produce A4 landscape booklets.

“The new installation will provide efficiency savings through quicker turnaround times,” he said.

“It also means we can retain all bookletmaking inhouse to make time and cost savings.”

The 4,500bph Horizon SPF-200L combines stitching and folding with the ability to feed A4 landscape sheets up to 640mm in length.

JDF-ready, it offers instant setups via a large icon-based colour touchscreen that can be used for on-the-fly fine tune adjustments as well as the storage and recall of up to 200 jobs.

The SPF-200L is Alba’s second recent IFS purchase, following last year’s installation of a Horizon GMS-7 Spine Taper, a fully automatic device designed to handle any bound document from 80mm and up in manual mode.

Alba Printers produces items including booklets, brochures, leaflets, labels, books, packaging, forms, stationery and signage for clients including commercial companies, universities, health trusts, artists, photographers, authors and local businesses.

The 12-staff business produces litho print on a five-colour B2 Komori Enthrone and a two-colour B3 Ryobi 522HX, digital on a Xerox Versant and a Xerox D110 and wide-format on an Agfa Anapurna M2050i.