The Nottingham-based supplier has taken on the Premier 435 Auto perfect binder and Bagel iLam Pro B3 laminator.

The 435 binder is a new product that has so far had one sale and the Bagel has been available for around a month. The first 435 to be sold will be installed at an as-yet-unnamed printer’s premises over the next few weeks, which will then be used as its demo site.

The Bagel starts at £12,000 as a hand-fed machine but can reach £18,000 with various add-ons, with the 435 selling for around £20,000.

“We looked at lots of single-clamp binders out there but there was a big push on PUR perfect binding, which seems to peak and fall away when people get hold of these binders and realise what is involved,” said TCS managing director Chris Cooper. 

“But we were testing a new glue in the showroom and that has upped sales on single-clamp binders, which got our interest back again. We’re quite excited about this one, it is priced right and I think we did quite well with it.”

The 435 comes with automatic feeder and creaser. It can run at speeds of up to 450bph and bind books up to 58mm thick, set up via a 180mm colour touchscreen. It has two glue cylinders with a glue tank, a jogging station to prepare book blocks for binding and auto book thickness detection that sets up the width of the book spine.

The Bagel Pro also has a touchscreen and comes with a number of optional additional modules that can be added at a later date, including double-sided lamination, an additional feeder and gold foiling. Cooper said its strength lies in its build quality and the pressure from its cylinders giving “superb lamination”. He said it was initially billed as an SRA3 machine but can actually take sheets up to B3.

Cooper added: “The laminator will add a lot to the market. Being able to offer that machine as a build-as-you-go has its advantages.”

Last year, TCS signed an exclusive two-year UK agreement to supply two new Grafcut guillotines.