The machine, which was bought from Intelligent Finishing Systems (IFS) for around £60,000, was installed at the Lancaster-based firm’s 557sqm premises last month. It has replaced a Camco Rosback saddlestitcher.
As well as offering general commercial print services, the company is a contract publisher that has developed a strong portfolio of niche sporting publications.
Pagefast managing director Keith Simpson said: “Adding landscape capabilities is something we had been looking into for a while.
“We needed a new stitching line and thought landscape was the way to go. It will futureproof us by enabling us to offer something a little different.
“It has automated what we’re doing. Because we’re litho and digital we were finding that we were getting more and more small digital jobs that needed stitching so this machine is ideal for that.”
The 4,500bph Horizon SPF/FC-200L couples the highly automated features of the SPF/FC200A bookletmaker with the ability to feed A4 landscape sheets up to 640mm in length.
The JDF-ready system offers instant set-ups via a large icon-based colour touchscreen for user-friendly operation. The screen can be used for on-the-run fine tuning as well as the store and recall of up to 200 jobs.
“We had been looking at the Horizon system for a long time and the digital side of what we do pushed us towards that,” said Simpson.
“We did a lot of research and wanted something automated that could handle A4 and B4 plus landscape. The Horizon fitted that bill.”
The device will handle litho print from the firm’s Heidelberg Speedmaster 72 and a single-colour Heidelberg SORM as well as digital print from a Ricoh Pro C751 press. The business also operates a Stahl folder and a Polar guillotine.
“We invested in the Ricoh press last year and since then we needed to improve finishing for digital short runs,” said Simpson.
“The new system means we don’t have to outsource any work now. That makes production more competitive and gives us greater control over turnaround times. We have already run three significant jobs on it and we have been very happy with it to date.”
Pagefast Print & Publishing has 10 staff and a turnover of £700,000. Commercial print makes up around two thirds of the firm’s turnover while contract publishing accounts for the remainder. The company’s typical customers include local businesses, agencies and passing trade.
