The Sheffield full-service print company has installed a Horizon SPF-200A bookletmaker with 20-station twin-tower collators and a Horizon PF-40L automatic folder, both from Intelligent Finishing Systems (IFS).
Print & Design Factory, which was established 20 years ago, has a £1.2m turnover and 12 full-time employees. It spent £70,000 on the two Horizons, installed last month.
The team produces general commercial print for local and national clients on kit including a five-colour Sakurai press, a two-colour Heidelberg Speedmaster 52, a Xerox Versant 180 and a Xerox Colour C60.
The Horizon SPF-200A and PF-40L replaced an MBO B26 all-buckle-fold unit and a Muller Martini saddle-stitcher.
Commercial director Craig Ikin said: “Over the years we've changed from long- to short-run work and found we were taking too long to complete runs and send out work.
“We needed a solution that was faster and more cost-effective. Now a job that could have taken three people one or two days to complete can now be done by one person in a couple of hours.
“The kit has really changed the way we produce booklets and we hope to make a lot more. But we are realistic on growth plans and want to keep things nice and easy.
“I've worked for companies before that tell you 'we'll be millionaires this time next year', but in today's marketplace we are thankful to exist and pay our way.”
The automated Horizon SPF-200A produces 4,500bph. The JDF-ready system offers instant set-ups via a touchscreen that can recall up to 200 jobs.
The PF-40L combines high-volume suction feed with intelligent automation and is a 1,000 sheet capacity top-fed system offering the six most popular fold patterns of standard cut-sheet sizes.
Paper size range for the PF-40L is from 5x5” to 12.6x24.8” and thicknesses from 50gsm to 90gsm cover without requiring pre-scoring or creasing.
Ikin continued: “One operator runs both systems as they are so easy to set up. For example, we took a job on yesterday for first thing next day.
“We would have normally ended up working over the weekend but with the new equipment this was done in the day.”
