The new system, which was supplied by Intelligent Finishing Systems (IFS) and installed in October, will support production from the Peterborough operation’s two Xeikon 9800 digital presses.

Sharman and Co director Mark Sharman said: “We had been producing all our work on a Tensor T-400BE newspaper printing press, but decided to offer much shorter print runs, and invested in our first Xeikon 9800 with a Tecnau newspaper finishing line.

“The recently added second 9800 press prints to flat sheets, which will be finished on the Horizon folder. This adds to our overall digital capacity and enables us to produce a wider variety of newspaper products. The folder was chosen because it offered the best finishing flexibility for output from the Xeikon.”

The Horizon AFV-566FKT is the evolution of the AFC-566FKT automated cross-folder. Key features include up to 20% faster changeover thanks to a library of stored folds easily accessible on a 12.1-inch colour touch screen, easy recovery at knife fold section to reduce downtime, and retainable knife fold stoppers to minimise stoppages.

Additionally, IFS said an Auto Interval function adjusts to the optimum production speed automatically for higher productivity.

The machine is the first Horizon investment Sharman and Co has made.

Sharman added: “We knew about IFS through our connection with Tecnau and so we took a look at what Horizon had to offer.

“Because our experience was of a complete inline solution, we wanted something that could manage the applications we were producing today and hoping to produce in the future. It also needed to be quick to set up and easy to use. Our team needed to be confident in running it.

“We liked the fact the system had an integrated cross folder so that it was fully automated. The touch screen also helps with the ease of set up. It is ideal for the work we are doing now, and it will enable us to expand our applications as well.”

Current pricing for the AFV-566FKT starts from £90,000 plus any other options.

“Working with the IFS team was very smooth. The folder went in very well and the training was good. We have another training day booked in a few weeks so we can be sure we are getting the best from the system,” Sharman said.

Established in 1872, Sharman and Co offers a full spectrum of newspaper printing, from a handful of copies to hundreds of thousands, including broadsheets, tabloids, colour, and black and white.