Suppled mainly by Horizon’s exclusive UK and Ireland distributor Intelligent Finishing Systems (IFS), all of the new kit –the Mark III, Horizon BQ-270 perfect binder, Foliant Vega 400A laminator, Horizon Vac-1000 collator, Renz DTP 340 puncher and Renz 360 electric wire closer – were installed at Harlow’s 7,500sqm South Shields site over the summer, with Renz kit supplied by Duplo.

Installed as additions to a number of IFS-supplied finishing systems, Harlow managing director Richard Walker, who first saw the Mark III at the distributor’s European showroom in Hamburg, described his 100-staff firm since installation as an “IFS house”.

“We’ve had equipment from them for many years, had the original StitchLiner before the new one came out, that’s always done well for us, so we were cajoled into buying the new one,” said Walker.

“We’ve got confidence with the servicing side and the sales and we know them well and are treated well.”

Launched in May, other early Mark III adopters have so far been Route One and Healeys Print Group. Configured with Hohner 52/8S stitching heads, it can run at maximum speeds of 6,000bph and 12,000bph with two-up production, and can also produce A4 landscape booklets at up to 5,300bph. 

“It’s a little bit quicker than the previous model, I would say we’re getting about 25% more output out of it, and it can do landscape, which the previous one couldn’t do,” added Walker, who said he was very happy with the other kit that had been installed. 

Harlow, which has £12m sales, is now looking to bring the majority of its work in-house.

Walker added: “We’ve been very happy with our subcontractor, have dealt with them for years and still use them for a number of things but it makes economic sense to bring it in.”

Mainly taking on work from NHS trusts, along with a range of general commercial print, Harlow runs Heidelberg litho presses, Xerox digital kit and a range of finishing kit, and also offers print management services.