The Pureva XT, which is available from Oxfordshire-based firm Ashgate with immediate effect for £8,495, is designed for digital printers with short run lengths. The compact, tabletop binder can be used for both soft- and hard-cover binding using either standard EVA or PUR hotmelts.

The machine, which has quick-change interchangeable EVA/PUR cartridges and a closed-tank system, can be used for nearly any binding job up to SRA3 size or A4 landscape and up to 45mm thick. Its patented glue mechanism can be easily cleaned or changed, making it possible to change from PUR to EVA in seconds.

It uses an electronic adjustable temperature control with single-button operation when switching between glue types and features a new kind of rail mechanism for the glue applicator, which offers minimal resistance when it is moved across the book block.

“Short-run soft- and hard-cover books are growing in demand and have become one of the most profitable products a print company can offer,” said Ashgate sales director Lewis Price.

“The Pureva XT is dramatically smaller and considerably lower priced than traditional PUR machines and is a breakthrough for not only small and medium-sized printers, but large binderies as well. Without a system like this, the larger companies wouldn’t really be able to do low-volume, short-turnaround PUR-bound hardback books.”

The manually operated machine, which Ashgate said is suited to run lengths of one to 5,000, self-adjusts for book thickness from one to 1,000 pages, depending on paper stock. It can be used with Fastbind Casemakers to produce hard-cover books and photo albums.

“This model is a nice upgrade path for our many hundreds of customers that currently have a Fastbind Elite XT. There will be more models to come within the Pureva XT brand, which will grow over the coming years,” said Price.