The Horizon AF-406F was installed at the firm’s Leicester base in late November with the intention of supporting demand for shorter runs and faster turnarounds, leaving its arsenal of Herzog & Heymann folders, which total nearly 30, to handle longer runs.

Joining a Horizon AFC 566F installed last December, the machine was selected because of Clinical’s positive experience with Horizon kit and distributor Intelligent Finishing Systems (IFS) in previous deals.

“Summarising 2017, it has been a buoyant year for us and we are capping it off with this installation,” said operations manager Alan Pickles. “We are always on the lookout for new tech and the latest investments.

“Investment is constant for us, as we showed with our other Horizon install last year. No explicit plans have been formed for 2018 yet, but we would not be against getting in another folding machine – we will see what suits.

“Our portfolio includes die-cutters and guillotines, so there are plenty of possibilities for further progression.”

Pickles said the AF-406F was also selected for its “versatility” and capacity for automation, as well as Horizon’s efforts to regularly update the kit it offers to customers.

The AF-406F is a JDF-ready automated modular buckle folder. Its 6+6 buckle modular concept allows for both simple and complex fold patterns that maximise folding variations.

It features a graphical colour touchscreen controls for intuitive operation and a high level of automation helps reduce paper waste and energy consumption.

Typical output from Clinical includes small booklets and leaflets. Pickles described the firm as “miniature specialists”. Alongside the Horizon installs, it also added a Bograma inline stitching line to its portfolio in August this year.

From 2,800sqm premises, the firm’s 33-strong team turns over £2m. The business, which exhibited at PrintWeekLive! 2017, has been running for 42 years, founded by owner Alvin Brown in 1975 with a £375 loan from his father.