Tech-ni-fold has developed a  sub-4,000 hand-fed creaser for the European and US markets, the Speedcreasa, which will be debuted at Ipex.

"For short-run creasing, say up to 2,000, it's actually faster than an automatic creaser," said Tech-ni-fold managing director Graham Harris.

The desktop unit, developed by Tech-ni-fold and manufactured by Multigraf in Switzerland, is loosely based on the device that was launched by Autoprint in India for the Asian and Indian markets, last year. It is also based on the firm's Tri-Creaser.

In the UK, it will be sold under the Highfield brand, part of Printaply, and marketed exclusively by Printaply in Sheffield, and its distribution partners. According to Harris, more than 60 units have been pre-ordered, 15 by UK firms.

It can handle sheets up to 480x500mm down to items 100mm wide. Features on the 3,995 unit include: swing lays for badly cut or off-square sheets; simultaneously adjusting sheet guides; and, according to the firm, 100% accurate crease register.

Printaply will be targeting the machine at digital printers, copy shops and commercial printers.

"There are two markets really digital and full-scale commercial printers that may have 500 book covers to crease, which would probably taking longer to set-up on a big machine than it would take to set-up and run on this," said Printaply partner Jonathan Smith. "And then you can add to that all of the different finishing processes it can run."

The Speedcreasa is compatible with various Tech-ni-fold tools for cutting, scoring and trimming, close proximity creases (up to eight) and perforating and micro-perforating, which are available as options or upgrades.

Printaply will launch the Speedcreasa on the Tech-ni-fold stand at Ipex.