The Horizon SPF/FC-200L landscape bookletmaker and a Horizon AFC-566 folder cost a total of around £80,000 and have been installed at the company's Hull base over the past few months.
The £1.5m-turnover operation has 20 staff and supplies clients across Europe with promotional pads. It produces litho and digital print on two B2 Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 74s and a Ricoh Pro C901.
“A4 landscape work was something we were keen to offer. We had a three-tower Duplo system, but we hand-finished landscape jobs," said Jadan Press managing director Pam Wainman.
“The Horizon fitted into the floor space. We also liked its easy operation and the results. It's three-year warranty was also great and will save us thousands of pounds.”
The impact of the SPF/FC-200L was immediate said Wainman, who hopes to make a return on investment in 18 months. The bookletmaker replaced the Duplo while the AFC-566 folder replaced a Stahl.
“The new kit runs every day 24/7 and it is going perfectly. We already have the work going through the machine and any new work is a bonus.”
The 4,500bph SPF/FC-200L incorporates the automated features of the SPF/FC200A bookletmaker plus the ability to feed A4 landscape sheets up to 640mm.
JDF-ready, the system offers instant set-ups via a large icon-based colour touchscreen. The screen can be used for on-the-run fine adjustments and store and recall up to 200 jobs.
The Horizon AFC-566 offers 17 fold patterns set up via an icon-based touchscreen. All roller-gap settings are done automatically by inserting a single sheet at the calliper.
“We are now more competitive in the marketplace and can handle more folds. Before we would have turned the work away or subbed it out. We can be more cost-effective,” said Wainman.
“We can deliver a more responsive service to our existing customers and be more flexible on the folds we offer.
“We are very much looking to differentiate ourselves from the competition: we are all putting ink on paper but this gives us a way of standing out.”
Wainman said the Horizon system was “more robust than other machines” and praised supplier Intelligent Finishing Systems' good service, warranty and aftercare.
