The 130-year-old outfit installed the laminator about two months ago. It was supplied by Intelligent Finishing Systems (IFS) and cost around £30,000, which Ruddocks managing director Paul Banton described as a “good deal”. 

It joins Ruddocks’ current hand-fed laminator, which it will continue to operate but mainly on jobs that require foiling.  

Banton said: “We had a look at what else was in the market. IFS we know really very well - they always do our equipment and everything we’ve ever had from them has been very reliable. 

“This machine has been around for quite a long time and could do the job we wanted it to do. It is easy to work and quick to setup. It doesn’t look particularly fancy but it's a laminator that laminates really well.”

The machine takes sheets of up to 530x750mm and runs at speeds of up to 18 sheets per minute. It has an integrated deep-pile vacuum feeder and a high-speed bump separator.

The new device means that the Lincoln-based, 43-staff outfit has been able to keep regular contract work for a direct mail company in-house. Banton said that before the new machine, it was taking these jobs all day to laminate on its hand-fed laminator, but that it could now turn the work around in two hours.

“Previously it was incredibly difficult to meet the turnarounds,” he added.

“We would certainly hope we can take on more work and are actively seeking contracts of this nature. There are a couple of others we are part-way through or waiting on and feel that the machine is going to help us fulfil those contracts.”

Banton also revealed that Ruddocks is currently in the process of installing some new software, due to go live in a few months, and he said that the company was the first in the UK to install it. He didn't reveal further details. 

The £3.3m-turnover company runs a Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 75, a Ricoh Pro C9100, a Xerox Color 1000 digital press and a large-format Mimaki machine.

The Ricoh was bought as part of a £250,000 digital spend made last year.