"We launched the TH range of automated folders at Drupa, which are 56-82cm in size, but we didn't have anything in the 52cm B3 size and developing anything from scratch would have been a two or three year program," said Heidelberg UK post-press business executive Mark Hogan.

Production of the TA 52 will begin at the MB factory in St Georgen, Germany, during September, and its official launch will be at Print 05 in Chicago from 9-15 September. Shipping will begin shortly afterwards.

The TA 52 automatically sets the side stop, rear edge separator, folder roller gap and buckle stops after format and fold type have been set via its touchscreen GUI. The 40,000sph buckle folder can also be linked into pre-press and press workflow via Heidelberg's Prinect FCS.

Options available for the TA 52 include a small folding station, for folds down to 18mm; mobile cross-folding unit; slitter shafts, for scoring and perforating; strip trimming; gluing; and a motorised gate-fold plate.

Heidelberg has no plans to take any other format sized folders from MB. "Although they make the smaller 36cm folder too, that's not really our bag, we're not in the digital market," said Hogan.

MB's UK agent Encore Machinery will continue to sell the PrestigeFold Net 52, along with MB's entire range of folders.

Story By Darryl Danielli