The new line is based around a Polar N137 guillotine, which is fed by a stacklift and jogger equipped with scales to enable accurate measurement of ream quantities, and completed by a Transomat unloader. It replaced a 20-year-old Polar Flowline.

The line was installed in September along with a Polar D 56 Eco cutter, which with a maximum cutting format of 560x560mm, lends itself to Acorn’s digital printing output, according to the company.

Coupled with the addition of Compucut and Cut Manager software, the Swindon-based firm now expects a leap in productivity. 

“After looking at the competition, other B1 equipment, it became clear that this was the most suitable,” said managing director Patrick Crouch.

“I felt this was the right choice for us. We are looking to consolidate and grow our business and, with this new Polar line, we will be ready for increased demand for automation and electronic assistance.

"This equipment, which will run around the clock, will give us increased efficiency but we still will want to have the best and most reliable operators to run it.”

The N137 is a high-speed, automatic guillotine, which has a maximum cutting width of 1,370mm. It runs at a speed of up to 45 cycles/min and can work alongside Cut Manager software to analyse job length performance.

Discussing further expansion plans, Crouch said five new staff members have been brought in to grow the team to 50 members. Some new staff in the sales department and on the factory floor have already started work, while others will join in the coming weeks.

Acorn currently turns over £5m, but Crouch said the firm is “aiming for £6m”. Its 2,200sqm premises offer litho, digital and large format printing to a variety of customers, including Land Rover and Barclays.