Supplied by Hemel Hempstead-based Friedheim International, the new fully automatic stack-forming device is due to arrive at Preston-based ECM’s facility in late February.

It will help the firm to accelerate its finishing services, allowing for an increase in productivity and greater quality control, according to joint partner Simon Wilson.

He said: “Simply put, the Palamides Delta-pro 703 gives us extra capacity. It will mean many jobs that currently require two members of staff to complete can now be done by one person, thus freeing up staff to take on other work.

“The main reason that we opted for the Palamides Delta-pro 703 was to allow us to take on more paper banding and small-pack work. Ahead of the new machine being installed, we have already lined up a host of new work.”

Part of a wider Delta-pro range from manufacturer Palamides, the 703 has an infeed height of 400mm-1.05m, handling material up to A3 format, and a stacking height of 10-150mm with a small package option of 2mm.

Features including quick-release fasteners of jogging panels and automatic shaft adjustment have been added to shorten setup times and improve operability.

At ECM, the Delta-pro 703 will support a range of finishing processes that currently includes stitching, folding, collating, wire-binding, automatic shrink-wrapping, hand fulfilment and polybagging.

Established in 2010, ECM Print Finishers has 16 staff and predominantly serves small to medium-sized printers in the North of England. It runs a 24/5 shift pattern as standard and can move to 24/7 during peak times.

It also operates Renz wire-binders, collating machinery from Col-Tec and a Muller Martini Primera saddle stitcher, as well as a K800 automatic combi folder and A500 stacker both made by MBO and bought from Friedheim in 2018.