"We've been considering a move into perfect binding for some time," said managing director Karl Henly. "The level of enquiries we received forced us into action."

The firm specified its machine with 16 feeders plus cover, a compensating stacker and a 90-degree turn in the line. The computer-control-led binder offers full signature recognition and will be linked to Wohlenberg in Germany for online troubleshooting and software downloads.

Set-up on the line is automated via Wohlenberg's Navigator SE computer controls.

"So we can even enter new job information while the current job is still being produced," said Henly.

The City will be installed by Wohlenberg's UK distributor MAN Roland at the trade finisher's Midlands factory in the second week of December.