In April last year the firm installed an AP360 automatic heavy-duty punching machine and this was followed in the summer by a MOBI 500 automated binder.

The business then took delivery of a Punch 500 ES heavy-duty professional punching machine in the run up to Christmas.

This device, which can punch up to 4mm in one hit, operates with the same dies that the company uses in the AP360. It replaced an older Punch 500 model, which was sold on.

The Renz machines have joined existing kit at the firm's 297sqm Langley, Slough-based premises including a CP Bourg BDF bookletmaker and 20-station collator and a Polar EMC 115 guillotine.

The company, which is a paper merchant to schools and colleges by trade, also has a 790sqm distribution and warehousing unit for this side of the business in Gerrards Cross.

David John Papers managing director Steve Gould said the finishing operation is the company’s value-added service, which predominantly sees it produce wire-bound books for retail and trade clients.

“Printers will send materials into us and we can collate it and punch it or they can send it in pre-collated and we will just put the holes in and put a glamour and a glint on it.”

Gould added the investment, which will be paid off within three years, has enabled the company to bring more work in-house.

“The Renz machines have made us more efficient and allowed us to take on jobs that we couldn’t have taken on before, like calendar work. The investment has also given us a far better setup.

“We’re better off doing work in-house as we can produce it and turn it around quicker and be in control of our quality.”

The AP360 features a two finger paper pick-up system which can handle a range of mixed stock, fast die changes and optional two-part split dies for book and calendar work.

“I liked the easy die changes. Previously, swapping a 3:1 or 2:1 die would take 30 to 45 minutes and it now takes just five minutes. When we de-select the pins it takes just seconds,” said Gould.

The business first saw the MOBI 500, which can bind up to a 25mm thick product, at Drupa.

“It was a no-brainer. It’s very user-friendly and there is no excuse for oval shaped wire – it is always very round. I also like the fact that it is an upright system, which means the operator does not have to lean over.”

David John Papers, which was established in 1972, has 15 staff and a turnover of £2.1m.