According to Graphic Arts Equipment (GAE) marketing consultant Vic Fletcher, the BQ-270 represents a big change in the mindset of commercial printers. “Perfect binding was once considered an area printers would only get involved in if there were long runs involved,” he says. “With this new generation of automated binders, very short runs are now possible. Its popularity has grown as customers have come to realise the value of this, especially with digital work.”

The BQ-270 replaced the BQ-260, a manual version single-clamp binder that no longer met market needs for fast job turnaround. With a top speed of 500 cycles per hour and a book thickness 1-50mm, the BQ-270 is JDF compatible. It can automatically set up – via a central touch screen control – the book-block dimensions and glue application, as well as cover feeding, positioning and scoring. Up to 20 different jobs can be programmed into the machine’s memory to be recalled at a later date.

Extra features
Other notable features include: the top-feed cover station (positioned to accommodate inline scoring), that can handle up to 70mm of cover stock; the gluing station that has two application rollers as well as side glue rollers to aid binding strength; and the rotary milling and roughening blades that can mill off up to 3mm from the book spine, helping the glue to penetrate better.

There are a number of modular add-ons to complement the binder. The T-270 is a seven-day timer, meaning the machine melt tank can be programmed to warm up at set times over the course of a week, saving valuable operator time before each new shift (there is also a single-day timer that comes as standard). Launched at this year’s Ipex, the

HT-30 is a three-side trimmer that is designed to run alongside with the BQ-270 – it’s just a case of lifting the books out of the delivery and into the unit. Also worthy of a mention is the SI-270 spine calliper unit that enables the book spine to be measured automatically.

Fletcher believes the Horizon’s build quality and automation are notable assets, but its real strength lies in the quality of book it produces. “The squareness of the spine is always spot-on and the first book is saleable, so a run of one is feasible,” he says.

Primed for the used market
Claimed to be the “missing link” in the automated binder sequence, a four-clamp BQ-470 was demonstrated at Ipex and will be commercially available in the autumn. “Currently, some customers run two BQ-270s together to cope with demand, but the new machine will change that,” says Fletcher. “As result, I fully expect we will see more BQ-270s coming onto the secondhand market in the next couple of years.”

Not that they aren’t available already. GAE is the exclusive distributor of Horizon products in the UK and Ireland, and its Refurbished Equipment division currently has two models in stock. GAE will happily take in, fully refurbish and sell on with a warranty, any of the models it sells or supplies. Other makes and models can also be traded in, but they are “sold as seen” back to the market.

Spares with Horizon models are never a problem – the Japanese manufacturer can provide parts for models of any age. At GAE’s Perivale headquarters alone, there are 300 lines of stock for the BQ-270.
With 16 engineers and six operator support staff, GAE offers the same levels of service to secondhand customers as it does new. Gold, silver and bronze service packages are available to all, but equally there is the flexibility to build a bespoke contract around the needs of the customer.

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SPECIFICATIONS
Speed
• 500 cycles per hour
Number of clamps
• 1
Book block size
• 35x105mm to 320x320mm
Cover size
135x230mm to 320x660mm
Max cover pile height
• 70mm
Book Thickness
• 1-50mm
Price
• New: BQ-270 from £25,000
• Used: 2003 BQ-270 £17,000
• 2004: BQ-270 £18,000 (both fully refurbished)
What to look for
• Scrape roller and application roller bearings