The £1.2m-turnover company, which is based in Somerset, invested in the kit in a bid to improve the productivity of its on-demand book production service. It launched its web-based fulfilment service, Short Run Books, three years ago.

The new investment follows the installation of a Komori Lithrone S529-H five-colour press two years ago and an Océ CS655 Pro digital colour press last year; both were chosen for their fast makereadies and ability to improve turnaround times.

Remous director Alan Bunter said of the new binder: "We chose the BQ270C because it is a one-person operated machine, which takes flat covers so there is no need to pre-crease, and it produces a nice book.

"We can now finish a range of work, litho or digital, including sewn book blocks. We recently completed a 6,300 run job for an Oxford college. The key benefit is that we can be up and running a lot more quickly than with the old system we were running."

Bunter added that the machine had helped to free up staff in the factory, enabling them to focus on different tasks.

"With the old system producing books was a four-man job, including feeding the covers," he said. "Now the staff can be more flexible; they move around the bindery much more freely, enabling them to concentrate on work that needs doing – eliminating any bottlenecks."

The Horizon BQ270C binds books up to 50mm spine-width with a cycle speed of 500cph.