What is it?
It’s a perfecting film laminator
Why did you choose this particular machine?
It was built in the UK and it’s a sound machine. We had owned the previous model and that was a really good machine. Also, Autobond offers really good support so that swung it for us.
Did you look at any other similar machines?
We did, but this perfects and laminates in one pass and we couldn’t find anything else out there as good as the 74.
What was the business case for making the purchase?
We were doing a fair bit of laminating, but also outsourcing a lot and being let down by people, so we took it in-house.
What features do you particularly like?
It perfects, it runs at a fairly high speed, it’s very operator-friendly, the manufacturer is UK-based and it’s got a great team of engineers – we had a breakdown late on a Friday afternoon and they drove down from Derby on the Saturday morning to fix it for us.
Is there anything that you dislike?
Nothing at all. We’re perfectly happy with it.
Is there anything that you wish it had that it doesn’t?
Not really, no.
How fast is it?
We run it at 39m per minute, but it could go faster.
How reliable is it?
It’s extremely reliable. We have had Autobond machines for almost two years now and you get normal wear and tear, but nothing has gone wrong with the machines themselves.
What’s the quality like?
The quality is as good as it gets.
How easy is it to use?
It’s very user-friendly. Makeready on the Autobond is extremely quick and its ease of operation means virtually everyone in the factory can use it. One of our key philosophies is that we cross-train all staff, so nobody’s ever sitting around waiting for someone else to complete their job.
Has it won you any new work?
It’s almost difficult to believe its effect on our business, but I would say we’ve pulled forward new investment plans by several years. Within a few months, the Mini 74 has resulted in a significant amount of laminating business as well as additional print orders for the press.
What about the service?
The installation went smoothly and the service has been excellent. Before we bought it we travelled to Autobond’s Heanor factory and were extremely impressed. It’s one of the best manufacturing plants I’ve ever been in.
Who do you think the machine is right for?
It is perfect for small to medium-sized printers looking to bring lamination in-house. We bought the mid-range model, but we could have bought a high-end version – Autobond has got a good range of models.
CONCLUSION
User’s verdict
Speed 5/5
Quality 5/5
Reliability 5/5
Value for money 5/5
Supplier’s response
Autobond managing director John Gilmore says: “David started with a smaller machine and he saw this one at Ipex and really loved it. It’s got everything on it, including a Heidelberg thermal perfector and stacker. The machines are selling really well for us and we’ve sold them all over the world. In fact, we’ve got a guy installing one at the moment in Réunion Island, about 1,000 miles east of Madagascar.”
Price From £56,000
Contact Autobond 01773 530520
