Set to arrive at the firm’s main Glasgow headquarters in October, the machine’s installation comes amid a busy period for Bell & Bain as it continues to integrate new acquisition J Thomson and gears up for an eight-figure tech investment spree.
The book printer currently runs an ageing Aster book sewing system once a week, offering minimal service for a process that is increasingly in demand. By taking on the circa-£300,000 Ventura, it will step up its sewing capabilities to diversify the options in its bindery portfolio.
Chair Stephen Docherty said: “It was a goal I set myself a while back, to get in one of these sewing machines, but I did not think I would be able to get one because our money has always been tied up in the latest press investments.
“Sewing is still in high demand with our clients; it has great lie-flat properties and just looks really good. The MC technology is hard to get your head around at first, but it is by far the best in the market and, once mastered, it makes things so much easier for the operators.
“We are very good at making things work and the Muller tech is by far the best on the market. They have always been a fantastic support to us, and we are proud to use them.”
The Ventura (below) will also include the 'Tween' option for sewing different sized signatures in the same book, which is understood to be unique to the UK market.
Muller Martini spokespeople confirmed to PrintWeek that this latest investment makes Bell & Bain one of the largest users of the MC servo technology in the world, already running three Alegro binding lines, a Diamant MC 35 hard cover line and a Primera MC saddle-stitcher onsite.
Bell & Bain is in the midst of a busy period, having acquired local stalwart commercial operation J Thomson in July to create a 300-staff, £30m-turnover print group. Docherty himself has stepped back into a chair role, with Karen Baillie stepping up as Bell & Bain onsite managing director and Kevin Creechan keeping the top job at J Thomson.
“I have been able to go back down onto the shop floor and help with the practical stuff which has been wonderful,” said Docherty. “It is such a success story. We have acquired a company with fantastic skills and been so busy that we’ve had no chance to change anything.
“For clients, it is just going to get better and better and we are going to offer more and more services across the group as we go along.”
Docherty previously told PrintWeek that his ambition was to see the group grow to £40m sales in the next couple of years. He will be supporting that with a spending drive predicted to total £20m over the next 18 months, with details forthcoming.
The group also includes 21 Colour, a commercial printing operation acquired last summer.
