Bought from Intelligent Finishing Systems, the machine was installed in August and will help Ashford produce short runs of high-quality paperback books.

It will work in conjunction with the company’s Horizon BQ-470 single-clamp perfect binder, which was previously processing work from larger industrial trimmers.

Ashford production director Simon Tiller said: “The machine was very simple to set up. Due to our previous experience with a Horzion machine, we understood much of its make-up and did not need to do too much training for our staff.

“The device’s interface is largely the same as it is for the BQ-470 and the two machines work together very nicely. It was a quick learning curve.

“We were increasingly being asked to meet faster turnaround times and to handle a wider range of quantities and sizes. Running the trimmer nearline means we can be more productive and responsive. The two systems together can handle the shorter runs, while our other binders look after the longer runs.”

With automated job setups and quick changeovers, the HT-30 also has the ability to store up to 40 different book jobs in its memory. It has soft-drop deliver and operates nearline to trim perfect bound books at up to 200cph. 

Based in Gosport, Hampshire, Ashford Colour Press is a specialist in quality, fast-turnaround printing and related services for books, magazines, brochures and all bound publications.

The company runs Heidelberg and KBA litho presses, two HP T230 colour inkjet web presses, which run HDNA heads, and a Ricoh Pro C9100 sheetfed digital press among its portfolio of more than 50 machines.

Founded more than 30 years ago, Ashford serves clients predominantly in the education and training sectors. It has a workforce topping 150 and a turnover of around £12.6m.