Based in East Kilbride, the firm won the contract earlier this year and made a circa-£27,000 deal with Intelligent Finishing Systems (IFS) to take on the new Horizon as an expansion of its existing kit at the start of the summer.
With clients in the electronics, pharmaceutical, commercial, publishing and automotive sectors, MBM’s focus on efficiency, value and seamless integration led it to select the Horizon to fulfil the requirements of its new commission.
Operations director Bryan Munro said: “When you buy a car, you are automatically given a user’s guide as part of the pack in the glove box. If you want the full-blown owner’s manual or navigation manual, you have to order this through the parts department.
“These are then ordered on a daily basis in quantities of one and two. Previously, we had to put these through our large [Muller Martini] Trendbinder, but now we have the mini binder we can bind single copies as and when required.
“Several others were considered but the Horizon was chosen due to its high-speed makeready, easy-to-use front-end, hourly output, easy maintenance and because it is a machine that made the best impression to fit straight in with the requirements of the business.”
According to Munro, a positive relationship with supplier IFS has “only been enhanced” by the fast delivery and installation of the BQ-270V.
Horizon’s single-clamp perfect binder can produce books up to 50mm thick at a rate of up to 500cph. Book sizes can range from 135x105mm to 320x320mm. Changeover from A4 to A5 size takes around 10 seconds and setup is completed through a touchscreen.
Munro is expecting a return on investment from the machine within 16-20 months, depending on production volumes. He said the initial contract win had inspired the firm to target more work in the automotive industry, and an expansion of its reach into the pharmaceutical market was also on the cards.
Currently employing 78 members of staff at a 9,290sqm facility shared with other businesses, MBM Print SCS runs two B1 litho presses, two Variquick web presses and a number of guillotines, folding machines and stitching lines.
Its client list includes companies such as Canon, Sony, Mitsubishi, Oki and Toyota. The company turns over £7.7m.
