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MBO’s T520 folder made its debut in the US during the summer of 1998, before making its way to these shores at Ipex in the same year and getting its UK commercial release in January 1999.

Launched alongside the smaller T460, the T520’s B3 format has always been popular domestically, according to Bob Sugg, technical manager at distributor Friedheim International. Unsurprisingly, then, it came up against fierce competition, such as Stahl’s Ti52 and Shoei’s SPT 56 folders.

There were 35 machines sold by Friedheim during the four years the machine was in production and, according to Sugg, 70% of these sales are still in action in the UK today.

There were a few options available on the machine, he adds. For example, you could opt for different knife units
or a rear sheet separation device that made the machine more reliable.

Additional options
Other extras included gate-fold, edge trim, and punch perforation. There was also the choice of a hook-on delivery system or a mobile stream delivery plus users could add small sheet size delivery, noise damping and a gully cut device.
Its speed of 180m per minute (mpm) made it perfect for longer runs, hence the machine was targeted at the higher price bracket of the sector.

Four different types of configurations were available. The T520/4 was a one-unit machine offering four-, six- and eight-page parallel folds. The T520/4X had four buckle units with a knife, while the T520/44 incorporates two buckle units with four fold plates in each. The T520/44X had three units for a 16-page sections.

It replaced MBO’s T500 which was slightly smaller in format. The T520 was swiftly replaced by the T530 in 2002 and the T535 was launched at Drupa in 2006. During its lifetime, 90 T530s were sold worldwide. It offered full automation, which the T520 did not.

When sourcing a secondhand T520, check the wearing parts of the folder. Also, check the vacuum feed drum, plate lips and roller couplings, advises Sugg.

Friedheim has 14 engineers available for call-outs and servicing on the machine.

MBO still supplies parts for the T520 and service contracts are available from Friedheim. However, according to Sugg, few T520 customers take up the latter.

Service contracts aren’t really popular on these machines, he says. Most printers just fix them when they break. The only thing you would need to replace is the rollers and plate lips when they wear.

Used machinery dealer Roberts Graphics currently has a 2001 T520 4/4/X model available for sale. Its main competitor is the Stahl Ti52, says sales director Luke Roberts. We haven’t had many MBO T520s in because we tend to buy more Stahls than anything.

When buying secondhand, check the feeder head, condition of the fold rollers and knife unit, he adds.

A secondhand 2001 model with a standard feeder and knife unit, including delivery and installation, will cost around £17,000.

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SPECIFICATIONS

Speed 25-180m/min
Feeder size
105x105mm-520x720mm
Max folding length
Folding 1
Buckle 1 and 2: 460mm
Buckle 3 and 4: 340mm
Folding 2
Buckle 1 to 4: 345mm
Footprint     T520/44 with pile feeder + A56 delivery table: 2.5x2.8m
Weight     1.2 tonnes
Price     £17,000 DOC
What to look for
Vacuum-feed drum
Plate lips
Roller couplings