The systems, supplied by Binding Store, bring wire binding in-house at the litho, digital and large-format printer, based in Baldock, north Hertfordshire.
Following the investment in a new AP360 high-speed automatic punching system, a refurbished Punch 500 ES and an RSB 360 wire binder, the firm can now offer a trade service to its clients.
Managing director Richard Street said: “Just over two years ago we decided to start bringing all our finishing in-house to reduce the turnaround times and give us full control over the whole process.
“We used to outsource about £100,000 of finishing but have gradually pulled it all in-house. The Renz kit will pay for itself in a couple of years.”
The business started off with a Duplo stitch-trim system and then a Horizon folder. The three latest machines were installed last month and cost around £40,000.
The seven-staff company has a turnover of £900,000 and runs a five-colour Komori Lithrone B2 press, a Xerox J75 digital printer, a wide-format Roland DG SolJet Pro III XC-540 and an Epson SureColor proofer, installed three weeks ago.
Street is trialling Xerox and Konica Minolta kit to replace the Xerox J75 and total investment including that machine, the new proofer, and the three latest machines will be about £175,000.
Street recently won a big contract for the Salvation Army to produce and wire-bind around 150,000 books, and said this “convinced us the time was right to make the investment”.
He added: “Now we can look to offer wire binding as a trade service and we will be the only operation in our area to do so. We know there is the demand.”
The AP360 features a two-finger paper pick-up system that can handle a range of mixed stock, fast die-changes, and has optional two-part split dies for book and calendar work.
It sits beside the Punch 500 ES that handles all types of books and calendar punching production with ring wire, plastic comb and coil options.
Completing the trio is the 2,000cph RSB 360, which can bind widths up to 360mm and books up to 20mm thick.
Street added: “We did look at what was available on the market but liked the Renz systems because of their level of automation.
“They were easy to use, quick to set up and very cost effective. There is no need to spend lots of time getting jobs on them so we can be very productive very quickly.”
