Scoring machine specialist Rollem has signed a deal with Tech-ni-Fold to manufacture its Tri-Creaser device, which will be supplied as standard on all Rollem machines.

Rollem UK managing director Stuart Murphy said: "The device fits all Rollem machines and could even be fitted retrospectively to the first ones sold at Ipex 1954. It will be offered as a standard on all new machines, as well as to existing users."

He added that the Tri-Creaser, which will be called the Tri-Scorer on Rollem machines in deference to the US market, would form an important part of the firms pitch at Ipex 2002.

Murphy said: "We just have the first reactions from one of our salesmen in the US two days ago. He

couldnt believe how good it was, and hes been in the industry for 40 years.

We sell all around the world, so [inventor] Graham Harris gets the benefit of our global distribution network."

Earlier this year Tech-ni-Fold supplied Heidelberg with an initial 200 Tri-Creasers for its folding machines and agreed to manufacture more on demand (PrintWeek, 20 July).

Tech-ni-Fold director Harris said: "Its the perfect marriage between the two companies. It will be able to give the quality of a platen with 10 times the speed. Rollem make solid and reliable machines, you can tell by the number of older ones still about."

Rollem could manufacture between 500 and 1,000 in the first year, depending on demand.

"Theres a lot of opportunity in the market, with the explosion of digital printing, and thats good for

both companies. Were not going to sell the Tri-Creaser to any other creasing machine manufacturer," said Harris.

Story by John Davies