Muller Martini has given the Acoro Perfect Binder its Drupa launch.
The company believes the new Acoro is the worlds first perfect binder with fully motorised book adjustments.

Muller Martini manager of bookbinding systems, Gary Rogers, said that the mid-range Acoro incorporates tried and tested technology from Muller Martinis flagship perfect binder the Corona. The Acoro is CIP3 compatible and can be fitted with a modem link to Muller Martinis headquarters in either Switzerland or Britain for service information.
Rogers said: Itll bring the bindery into the 21st Century, until now, finishing has been seen as a Cinderella.

Book size data entered through a touch screen "Commander" control panel or through a link to a PC. The Commanders on-screen graphic display allows the operator to zoom-in on a particular area of the machine and change settings. The Acora can store up to 1,000 jobs. Muller Martini claimed that the motors and drives on the binder are accurate to 0.1mm. The Drupa demonstration included a changeover from A4 to A5 with a different spine thickness in under one minute.
Rogers said that the increased automation was in response to a customer demand for quick changeover, as well as compensating for a shortage of traditional skills in finishing. As the industry loses its craft skills, we have to improve our levels of computer skills.
The 16 or 20 clamp binder can be used for producing books from 3-60mm in thickness. It can run at a top speed of 5,000cph with spine length ranging from 140 to 430mm, and book widths between 100 and 320mm.
The Acoro will replace the Muller Martini Monostar, and prices start from 500,000. Rogers said that the Acoro would bolster Muller Martinis position as market leader in the binding sector.