The machine was installed in late February to complement Nottingham-based GM’s existing operations which include bookletmaking, wire-binding, drilling, punching and sheet collation.

Managing director and founder Gary Middleton first saw the machine at Ipex in November last year and then visited a local print company running the machine to see its capabilities first hand.

“The Mobi’s versatility was what struck me the most,” said Middleton. “Having seen the benefits that it provided for a printer we visited, I took it on to make the most of its quick setup times and the ability to do calendars with a 1.25-inch bind.

“At GM Finishing, we are always looking to expand our operations and looking down different avenues for how to add to our business.”

Renz’s Mobi 500 is designed for semi-automatic ring wire binding on books, calendars and skip binding on up to 260 sheets. It can change format in two minutes and runs at 1,000 cycles per hour.

Its touchscreen is designed to enable short setup times, which Middleton appreciated because “everybody wants things immediately”. He said he hoped the machine would pay for itself within three years.

While GM has no further capex in the near future, Middleton said his focus was on utilising his staff to optimise turnover. In the past 12 months, he has increased his team by “10%-15%”, now numbering 20 employees.

Established in 2006, GM Finishing is based in 650sqm premises and turns over £650,000.