Confirming speculation about the launch, Heidelberg UK business executive for postpress Mark Hogan said:  "We believe that we will be able to come in under the price of anything else in its market."

The JDF-compliant unit will be  capable of 4,000cph and offer a host of automatic makeready features. It will be targeted at sheetfed, trade finishing and bookbinding houses. The 4000 offers a central touchscreen control, two milling and two pressing stations.

"It's an impressive binder for companies who output about 2m books a year with typical run lengths of 1,000 to 10,000," said Hogan.

It will be capable of applying hotmelt and PUR glues. "People will want both," said Hogan.

The binder is set to be unveiled at the firm's Postpress Inforium in Leipzig in November and the unit will begin shipping in the spring of 2005.

"It is a machine built for today's market needs, with low-runs and shorter turnaround times," Hogan added.

The 4000, which is currently undergoing beta-testing in Germany and Italy, has a new 1,000cph three-knife trimmer and gatherer, which can be specified with up to 32 hoppers. Options will include criss-cross delivery, book block feeder or gatefold cover feeder.

According to Hogan, from the outset the 4000 was designed to offer both a high level of automation and a small footprint.

Designed and developed in Italy by Heidelberg-owned Eurotecnica, it will be manufactured at the German giant's Leipzig factory.

Story by Darryl Danielli