The Ipswich-based litho and digital commercial printer installed the Horizon PF-40L as additional kit in its digital room to enable the press operator to run complete mailing jobs rather than transfer them to its main folder.

“We do a lot of mailings, so now we personalise the letters then put them straight onto the folder and into the inserter, so we can run them tandemly,” said managing director Ben Perkins.

“We are being asked to handle smaller runs and meet faster turnaround times. After reviewing our digital print department we decided a small dedicated folder would be perfect to manage the workload in a streamlined way.”

The firm’s folder went in just before lockdown.

The suction-fed PF-40L features two buckle plates and a 1,000 sheet capacity top-fed system. According to IFS, its simple controls enable any user to automatically makeready six of the most common fold patterns for standard cut-sheet sizes and it has a 10 job programmable memory for bespoke patterns and formats.

It can handle sheets from 125x128mm to SRA3 in thicknesses from 52-157gsm without requiring pre-scoring or creasing.

The PF-40L has a list price of around £14,500, which includes the MT-40L Mobile Base Unit

PJ offers a wide range of finishing services to support the output from its four-colour Komori Lithrone S29 H-UV press and its brace of Ricohs, a Pro C7200 and Pro 8320.

The firm has a longstanding relationship with IFS and earlier this year installed a Horizon BQ-270V.

“So, we know Horizon well and like its systems. The build quality is good and the solutions are easy to use. The folder is no exception. It went in very well and does the job,” said Perkins.

Like most businesses, seven-staff PJ has made use of the government furlough, with two-staff currently on the scheme.

“We’re chipping along. Like every business we have a busy week and a quiet week. Things are definitely picking up from where we were April to June. July and August picked up and September’s looking good.”