The fastBlock, which consists of ISAG's fastCCF cutting, creasing and folding unit and its fastBook bookbinding machine, produces landscape photobook blocks with either standard or lay-flat binding.

It features either a roll or sheet feeder and decurler and can handle rolls up to 343mm wide and sheets up to 343x900mm in automatic production. Previous models had a separate folded sheet feeder for XXL sheets, which had to be folded to 343x450mm before processing.

ISAG said that the ability to handle the maximum 343x900mm sheet size without pre-folding meant more books could be manufactured in less time with the latest model fastBlock, which can produce 80 XXL 26pp book blocks per hour.

Sheets are transported onto a rotating drum in the gluing module where they are glued back-to-back and placed on a moving table to build the book block.

The new cardboard sheet feeder can insert cardboard sheets between the printed sheets, giving a thicker page and higher value feel to the finished product.

The cardboard sheet feeder has a capacity of 500-600 sheets (depending on stock thickness) and enables the production of up to 50 books per hour.

Finished book blocks can be transported to an optional stacker or onto a conveyor belt for transport to the next finishing process (i.e. three-knife trimming, casing-in, joint forming).

The fastBlock can also be used for the production of photo calendars, as well as premium greetings cards and postcards in various formats.

ISAG is currently showcasing the new fastBlock at Dscoop in Dublin. The machine is distributed direct by the manufacturer and is priced from around €400,000 (£295,000) depending on configuration.