T he launch of Horizon’s Vac-Turbo 100 at Ipex 1998 heralded a couple of significant firsts in the collating market. It was the first vacuum-fed collator to use a rotary vacuum drum but obviously there are similar machines on the market now, explains Jason Seaber, bindery production and finishing specialist at UK Horizon distributor Intelligent Finishing Systems (IFS). The machine also featured a new touchscreen control panel.
The Vac-Turbo 100 replaced the 10-year-old MC-80 series. It can be configured with 10 stations and up to six towers – enabling it to accommodate 60 feed bins.
It can accept wider variations of stock without the need for adjustment and Horizon also improved the error detection systems, offering computerised controls and simplified operation with its icon-based touchscreen interface. However, the main improvement was the rotary suction drum.
Suction-fed collators tended to have suckers on a bar, says Seaber. This leaves a slight mark on the sheet. The rotary didn’t have anything touching the paper, and so there was no marking on the substance.
Continuous collating
The operator is able to collate continuously without stopping to fill bins. When the first runs out, the collators switch to the second set, eliminating the need to re-start. Its tandem delivery, meanwhile, can start delivering sets into the second stack, once the first stack is full.
Software allows for selective feeds, so that operators can effectively collate three sets from bin A, two sets from bin B and one set from bin C. Meanwhile, intelligent feed means the machine can read from a database for variable data collating, enabling variable sets for personalised booklets.
It can collate litho, as well as digital, so you could have the cover litho printed and the rest produced using digital technology, says Seaber.
The machine was initially developed for bookletmaking lines, so was aimed at commercial B3/B2 printers or advanced high-street and inplant operations. The development of its SPF-200A book production line attracted commercial B2 houses hoping to achieve quick turnaround of shorter runs from their larger binding lines.
Software improvements
It hasn’t changed that much since it launched, although we have improved the software, reveals Seaber. The most significant update was the introduction of the Vac-Turbo 60 in 2004. This has up to six towers, forming 36 bins. The bins have two-and-a-half-times more capacity than the Vac-Turbo 100, so customers can keep the machine running for longer.
It’s not the most popular machine on the secondhand market, but it does hold its residual value, says Seaber. A new Vac-Turbo 100 costs around £15,000, but prices really depend on what it’s configured with. A secondhand model costs £6,000–£8,000.
Carl Boulter, director at Leicester-based secondhand dealer CJB, says Duplo’s DC-1060 is a more popular model, but that the Vac-Turbo is very sellable.
Most customers prefer it with an SPF-20A bookletmaker and FC-20A fore-edge trimmer, says Boulter. You would only need maintenance on an annual basis.
IFS has 10 engineers available for call-outs. When purchasing a machine, it’s worth checking the transport belts and delivery exit rollers. These are wearing parts of the machine, but shouldn’t cost too much to replace.
SPECIFICATIONS
Max sheet size 350x500mm
Min sheet size 148x148mm
Max bin pile height 55mm
Stock range 45gsm-350gsm
Speed 5,000 sets/hr (A3: 20 bins)
Footprint 842x952mm per tower
Price
New from £15,000
Used £6,000-£8,000
What to look for
Transport belts
Delivery exit rollers
