The new folder is being installed this week and will replace two existing MBO machines at the firm’s Derbyshire base. Buxton said the new folder would help it take advantage of the increased output and smaller footprint of having fewer, but more advanced, machines.
The new machine cost £330,000.
Finishing specialists on Buxton’s team are already familiar with the system, as two other Stahlfolders were installed in 2016. Staff who were working on the two MBO machines have been redeployed in the factory, according to the company.
“The advances in technology have been very impressive,” said recently promoted chief executive Kirk Galloway. “The overall efficiency, ease-of-use and the ability to maintain exceptional operating speeds whilst shingling has also contributed to a substantially increased output with no detriment to the substrate, enabling us to significantly increase our production throughput.
“As we continue to grow so does the volume of work, so we are constantly reviewing the advances in the technologies on offer to assess what will best suit our requirements at any one time.
“If something suitable comes around, we wouldn’t say no to buying it. On this year’s shopping list is an additional binding line with PUR and paper handling equipment.”
Heidelberg’s B1-format sheet folder has a Palamides alpha 500 hd delivery with one-person operation to increase its throughput capacity. Its shingle system works by underlapping single sheets from the pallet into the infeed and overlapping sheets in the subsequent second and third folding stations.
At last year's PrintWeek Awards, Buxton Press was named Company of the Year for a third consecutive time and for the fifth time overall.
“We were absolutely delighted,” said Galloway. “As I said on the night, to win three times on the trot has to be an unbeatable record. As an industry, we’ve all seen so much change and we’ve all had to make changes – and in our case the changes we’ve made at Buxton have kept us going.
“We strongly believe in investing in technology and investing in people and there are 140 people that are all truly involved in this process, and I think that’s what really makes the difference.”
Buxton Press turns over £21m and prints 650 regular titles for 400 publishers, among a varied portfolio in the pagination sector.
