IFS said the SmartSlitter could help deliver improved margins.

The machine can slit, gutter-cut, edge-trim, cross-cut, perforate and crease in one pass to deliver multiple-up greeting cards with or without creasing, table tents and business cards.

According to IFS, the system, which offers both matrix and rotary creasing, is quick and easy to operate via a colour touchscreen and can perforate and crease in horizontal and vertical directions in the same pass.

Jason Seaber, technical sales director at IFS, Horizon's UK distributor, said the machine, which costs about £55,000, will go up against against higher-end Duplo machinery costing around £70,000 and mid- to low-cost kit from Morgana priced at about £30,000.

“Speed on the SmartSlitter depends on how many cuts and creases you make, but for a single crease and A3 trim its around 55 sheets per minute,” he added.

Typical uses include coupons with multiple perforations, direct-mail pieces, business cards, letterheads, compliment slips, card decks and photobooks.

Seaber said: “What's really nice about it is that you crease in both directions, up and down, which is important for perfect-bound book covers where the hinge and spine creases should be in different ways.”

He added: “Its flexibility to complete everyday jobs makes it a valuable addition to a busy operation looking to create higher-margin and ultimately more profitable work.”

Designed for both offset and digital output, the system comes with print mark registration to accommodate image shift in both directions.

Job set-up via barcode aims to ease operation of the system, which accepts sheets up to 370x670mm and can deliver finished sheets down to 50x50mm.

Skip perforation is also available for producing T-perfs and L-perfs, which are suitable for coupon and ticket applications as well as business reply cards.

Standard size business cards can be printed 21-up on a sheet and processed to a receding stacker for easy handling.