At 6,000 A4 sph the new Digifold Pro-500 is no faster than its Ipex 2010-launched third generation predecessor, however it incorporates key changes such as a high capacity vacuum top feeder that can take sheet piles of up to 500mm compared to just 60mm. The device handles paper stocks up to 400gsm. 

Other new features include dual creasing blades, which can be set for up or down creasing profiles as well as different creasing thicknesses and automatic set up of folding rollers, previously set manually.

Morgana sales and marketing director Ray Hillhouse said: “Digital print continues to grow, the page rates are coming down and people are doing longer runs. A lot of our customers were asking for a deeper pile so we introduced it because it means they can just put the stack in and let it run rather than having to top it up frequently.

Meanwhile the new Autocreaser Pro-500, which also features a new high capacity vacuum top feeder, will be launched at Ipex as well. The 8,500sph device incorporates dual creasing blades and matrix rather than the single blade of its predecessor, meaning users don’t need to change blades for different stocks.

Additionally two different profiles for hinge and spine creasing can now be selected, which Hillhouse said would particularly appeal to those doing perfect binding work.

“Before, the sheets had to go through the machine in two passes, but now people can produce covers for perfect binding with the two different profiles of crease in a single pass," said Hillhouse.

“Traditionally customers have been digital print shops but that is changing because most big litho printers now have a digital section. These are heavier duty machines and we see them fitting with the higher volume customers,” he added.

The units, which will be marketed at the top end of the Digifold and Autocreaser range, will be available to order at Ipex, with first shipping from Morgana’s Milton Keynes manufacturing site expected in June.

Prices have yet to be finalised.