What does the KAS Mailmaster C4 Compact enveloper do?
It has been developed especially for those companies that want an affordable, heavy-duty folder/inserter to handled DL to C4 envelopes and do not want to invest in higher-end production models. It is supplied with a fixed configuration of a sheetfeeder folder and two insert feeders, which are capable of handling jobs from a single sheet up to a 7mm thick book. There is also the possibility of a hand feeder and one additional feeder, to incorporate reading, folding and accumulation for viable data.

Why did you decide to purchase an enveloper?
As designers and digital printers, we wanted to be able to offer our corporate and financial clients a complete service from design right through to despatch. We were spending a lot of time and money couriering finished work over to fulfilment houses, so it made sense for us to set up our own service. For the past two years, we had been inserting envelopes by hand, but that was a slow business and the time had come for some automation.

Did you look at any other machines?
I went to Digital Print World 2005 ready to buy a different machine, but when I saw the Mailmaster C4 Compact, I realised how much better it would be for our application. To start with, it has never been my intention to compete with the large mailing houses. The maximum number of copies that we are ever likely to fold and insert is 20,000, and often it will be far less. We didn’t have the space or the budget, nor could we foresee a return on the investment for an enormous mailing and inserting machine – the Mailmaster C4 has a small footprint.

What features do you particularly like?
It has a very quick changeover from job to job or from one envelope size to another, using a touch screen control for set-up. This means that the two staff in our mailing and despatch department can move jobs through very quickly, which is all part of our fast response programme.

How quick is it?
It can envelope at a speed of 5,000 items per hour, inserting up to 12mm sheets into a C4 size envelope, with a duty cycle of around 500,000 per month.

Has it won you new work?
We are now beginning to see a return on our investment. Being able to offer a fulfilment facility has already brought in additional print work, and we are beginning to get interest from some larger companies that want us to quote for their fulfilment as well. I have no doubt that we made the right decision with this machine.

Were there any difficulties during the installation or after?
The installation went smoothly and KAS has given us good training and support.

What about the service?
The service is good. We have no complaints at all.

Who do you think the machine is right for?
Digital and offset litho printers that want to offer a fulfilment service to their customers and mailing houses for their short runs, where a quick turnaround is necessary.

Under what circumstances would you buy another?
I would not hesitate to buy a second KAS Mailmaster if the fulfilment side of our business were to expand to the extent where we did not have sufficient capacity using just the first machine alone.

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CONCLUSION
User’s verdict
Speed 4/5
Quality 4/5
Reliability 4/5
Value for Money 4/5

Supplier’s response
KAS Paper Systems managing director Stephen Hampstead explains: “Kingswood Steele is using the Mailmaster Compact for relatively short runs and benefiting from the quick changeover and set-up. It can, however, handle much longer runs as well, due to its durable construction. What is interesting about this installation was the number of pieces we had to spilt the machine into because of limited access to the room where it was to be located. We hadn’t intended it to be that modular, but it obviously went back together pretty well. We have packed a lot into a relatively small footprint, but still maintained the flexibility, robustness and simplicity of our bigger equipment, precisely for this type of application.”
Price £38,500
Contact KAS Paper Systems 01582 662211

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