The B series folder was so successful that it brought the MBO’s market share up from 3% to 50% in just 10 years. Many US finishers now have as many as 30 or 40 machines on one site, folding millions of leaflets a day.

These buckle folders were also a welcome addition to the UK market. Since the original three versions – the B26, B30 and B123 – were launched at Ipex in 1984, they have had well in excess of 1,000 installations. Although it did generate some interest at the start of its life, the 123 version was discontinued in 2002. Finishers preferred the B30 and B26 models as they provided greater flexibility of use. The B30 range outsold the other versions almost three to one.

No-frills machine
The numbers of the B series relate to each folder’s maximum size capability in inches. However, the B123 was actually only able to fold paper 23in wide. Machines on the market with “4/4/4” or “4/4” combinations following the model name denotes the number of fold units and the number of plates per units. This will always be four on the original machines. If you need to fold documents thicker than 16pp, a mobile knife unit can be added to handle sizes up to 32pp.

B series folders were designed with price and reliability in mind and their lack of add-ons reflects this. Friedheim International is MBO’s UK agent and technical manager Bob Sugg says: “This was always meant to be a no-frills machine and adding too many variables would have meant that costs could not be kept down. Due to its reliability, however, it became very much an industry standard and there was no need to offer unnecessary extras.”

Although Friedheim has had no difficulty selling the machines, service contracts have been more difficult to shift. Sugg says: “We have tried selling service contracts, but no one wants them. Many people have had them running for 20 years and they just don’t break. Of our nine service contractors in the UK, barely any of them have been on a call to fix a B series machine.”

Low maintenance
Secondhand dealers find the MBOs extremely popular, not only because of the consistency of the machine, but because they are still in production, so spare parts can be found with relative ease. Nyland Graphics managing director Steve Nyland says he always has at least half a dozen in stock to meet steady demand.

Nyland adds: “They are the market leader and we get a great deal of interest in them. They are so easy to use as they are almost completely mechanical, which means makeready times are not a problem. The residual value has also been constantly strong and remains so. With the machines still being in production, new and used parts are easy to come by.”

Most dealers will re-condition and change rollers and worn parts, but look out for worn buckles as these can cost up to £8,000 to replace. The rest of the machine is generally very resilient.

MBO decided to launch a new version of the B series 18 months ago. It was the first updated version of the B series in almost 20 years. The E “Efficiency” series gives the buyer more options than the original series allowed, such as six plates per unit and a palletised feed. This is the ideal choice for those who don’t require all the added extras that the more advanced MBO Perfector series provides, but want a few added options to the sturdy B series.

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SPECIFICATIONS
Sheet size
• B30: 150x180mm to 760x1,250mm
• B26: 150x180mm to 660x1,250mm
Max speed
• Pre-2000: 180m per min
• From 2000: 205m per min
Roller diameter
• MBO Spiral roller: 44mm
Prices
• New: MBO B Efficiency series, approx £50,000
• Used: 1990 B30, £20,000; 1990 B26, £18,000; 1995 B30, £25,000; 1995 B26, £22,000
What to look out for
• Condition of rollers
• The drive systems
• Paper transport systems