The Vivas system is the guide on the sidelays of units two and three that drives the sheets along without marking them. “This is a patented system by MBO, which is why they remain unique,” Bamford says.
Along with Vivas, Bamford says the T800’s strengths are its strong build and reliability. These assets have made it an extremely popular machine, with around 250 UK installations. “There has been a great variation of users, but we definitely have a model for everyone in the B1 market,” Bamford claims.

Automation levels
The folder is available with pile, pallet or a continuous feeder, with four, six or eight plates and it comes in both manual and fully automatic versions. “A buyer can choose what level of automation they require on individual parts of the machine,” says Bamford. The slitter shaft, which can be hard to reach on some machines, can be pulled out to check the measuring gauge, cutting down on makeready.

A new T800/44 with continuous feeder and pressing delivery costs £63,000. For a six-plate model, expect to pay £4,500 more and around a further £3,000 on top of that for a 1.2m pallet feeder. “Although most features do come as standard on the T800, various levels of automation canbe designed according to a customer’s requirements,” Bamford explains.

Andrews Finishing managing director Philip Booroff says that he has used MBO folders for 20 years. “We replaced our old MBO a few years ago, but that one had served us well for 17 years.” He adds that the second unit runs at the same speed as the first, and there is a single controller to increase the speed of each unit. “This makes it much faster and it’s great for cross folding.”

Booroff recommends the folder to all trade finishers and large-format printers, as it can do high-speed work as well as section folding. “It is also very good with larger sheets,” Booroff adds. “This is due to the vacu-belt, which replaced the old suction drum.”

Friedheim will part exchange models and the firm has sold secondhand machines directly, although they are far more likely to be found through used post-press dealers. Around 90% of spares are held at the firm’s head office in Hemel Hempstead and there are 27 engineers nationwide.

Nyland Graphics sells the folder secondhand and managing director Steve Nyland says that both the MBO T800 and T700 are extremely popular. “They are the fastest machine on the market and are very competitive on price.” A three-year-old T800/644 with presser stacker costs from £40,000 to £50,000.

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SPECIFICATIONS
Max sheet size
• 780x1,200mm
Min sheet size
• 170x200mm
Speed
• 10 to 230m/per min
Working width range
• 480-780mm (dependent on folding unit)
Price
• New T800/44 £63,000
• Used 2004 T800/644 £40,000 to £50,000
What to look for
• Rollers
• Condition of buckle plates