The Probinder makes each comb on-the-fly after automatically measuring the book to be made.

According to Heidelberg the machine is unique and will save firms a fortune by eliminating the need to hold stocks of combs. The only consumables needed are rolls of wire.

It is targeting the Probinder at short-run and book-on-demand applications.

Throughput is up to 300 books per hour. It can handle jobs from three sheets to 20mm thick with sizes from 140x140mm up to 305x345mm.

The Probinder will be available in three versions - Inline, Nearline and Offline. Inline can be connected to a Digimaster, Nearline has a three-tray collator and punch, and Offline takes pre-assembled and punched jobs.

(*) NexPress user VLM hit a milestone by producing more than 25m pages in the 12-month period up to the end of June on its three machines in Birmingham.

It plans to install the fourth of the NexPresses it ordered at Ipex before the end of this year.

The firm has also expanded, opening a London office to serve the financial market. It is using a HP Indigo 3000 press because that market demands spot colours.

Despite the crowded digital print market in the City the firm believes it has a competitive advantage from its web-based workflow and automated production.