Welsh firm buys in MB folder for automated finishing

Welsh commercial printer Y Lolfa has tripled the speed of its folding work by adding an automated MB PrestigeFold to its finishing battery.

The Aberystwyth-based firm, which specialises in Welsh-language and tourist publications, bought the folder from Encore Machinery to replace a 14-year-old Heidelberg Stahlfolder.

The 18-staff firm uses the PrestigeFold to handle material from its two Komori presses, a two-colour 228 perfector and a four-colour 426.

Y Lolfa production manager Paul Williams told printweek.com that the new folder had cut makereadies considerably, as well as being quick to set up.

"It also stores jobs in its 200-job memory, which makes it easier to come back to previous patterns," added Williams.

He said the kit is "three times faster than our old machine" and the printer can now fold 20,000 A4 sheet an hour, "which is faster than one operator can take them off the conveyor and box them".

The folder has also been configured to produce A4, A5 and 200x200mm square books, as well as commercial print.

Y Lolfa also runs a Col-Tec collator and bookletmaker, a Heidelberg Polar guillotine, an Autobond laminator and a Wohlenberg three-knife trimmer.