The binder, supplied by IFS, is supplied with a Meler adhesive pre-melt system and a PUR glue tank option. A Horizon HT-30 Robotic 3-edge trimmer completes the quick-response binding service at the Walton-on-Thames trade finisher.

Managing director Adam Melvin said the kit cost £108,000 but would add around £180,000 of business to his circa-£1m turnover. He said the business was recieving a lot of enquiries for short run perfect bound books.

"Everyone seems to want 100 to 150 copies up to a maximum of, maybe, 5,000 and we needed the most cost-effective way to do that," said Melvin, who looked at a number of systems including used machines.

"But we decided the BQ470 gave us everything we wanted. It’s fast to set up and easy to use. Also important to us was having the back-up and support of a good supplier, and we knew we would have that with IFS.

"This was the first big investment we've made and we will see how it goes over the next four years. The market is not so vibrant but we think the kit will pay for itself. It's a good all-round machine and is fast."

The 1,350bph Horizon machine joins a raft of other finishing equipment at the facility offering cutting, creasing and folding, saddlestitching, diecutting, wiro-binding and lamination.

"We are now able to offer our current customers a wider range of services and, of course, we plan to use this new service to expand our customer base. We expect to achieve return on investment in under three years."