The Horizon machine’s installation in mid-July has helped PBL take on more short-run A4 landscape booklet work. The company had previously had to use its Heidelberg ST, a machine better suited to longer runs.

Eric Stevenson, managing director at PBL, said the Horizon, bought directly from Intelligent Finishing Systems (IFS), was perfect for runs around the 500 or 1,000 mark.

He said: “The industry is generally heading towards smaller orders and the new landscape bookletmaker will help manage those more effectively and efficiently.”

The Horizon SPF-200L, which runs at 4,500bph and is fed sheets up to 640mm length, has joined PBL’s existing stock of Horizon finishing equipment, including a BQ-470 EVA perfect binder, a Stitchliner 6000 book production line and an SPF-200A bookletmaker.

Training was straightforward, said Stevenson, and the company’s familiarity with Horizon equipment meant the new bookletmaker was up and running in short order.

“The actual screens are virtually the same as the older machine, so it was easy. We know these machines very well,” he added.

Just two weeks after the SPF-200L’s installation, in late July, PBL also installed a new Polar N 92 guillotine with lifters, which was supplied by Heidelberg.

Stevenson said: “We’ve got three main guillotines now, because when we were under pressure, two wasn’t quite enough.”

Both installations, he added, give the firm more capacity. 

Last year, PBL, which employs 51 people, recorded its highest ever turnover, reaching £4.7m.

As well as its finishing equipment, PBL runs two Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 75 five-colour presses, two Heidelberg Versafire digital printers, and Ricoh and Konica Minolta mono presses.​