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What does the product do?
Kocher+Beck’s IOC system is an inline cutting, creasing and perforating system for sheetfed presses.

Why did you purchase the product?
We have an excellent long-standing relationship with Kocher+Beck. We purchase die plates for our offline finishing systems – the company sent out a demonstration video of this product and we took it from there. We saw it as a way of adding value to the already very bespoke products we produce, only this time for our sheetfed as opposed to our web/finishing lines. So we now cover both web and sheetfed.    

Did you look at any similar products – if so which ones?
We already use a Cito RSP System for simple perforations and some creasing. We saw the potential in this IOC system for virtually instant makeready of complicated die-cuts, so we went for it.

What features do you particularly like?
Its simplicity. It’s no different to mounting a blanket or coating plate, so it’s quick and easy. We operate a lean manufacturing plant that works on continuous improvements so the potential to drive out waste always interests us –in this case, the waste being the amount of time conventional systems take to makeready; with IOC, there isn’t any.

Is there anything that you dislike?
Not yet.

Is there anything that you wish it had that it doesn’t have?
No.

How fast is it?
You could call it instant makeready. You mount the plate like a blanket or coating plate, gradually easing the back pressure down to get the desired cut, perf or crease. It really is as simple as that.

How reliable is it?
There’s nothing about the system that could be unreliable.

What’s the quality like?
Excellent. Clean crisp long-lasting cuts, creases etc.

Would you say it has saved you any time or money?
The time saving is incredible because of the speed of makeready – it’s instant. The money side comes from adding value to that product; it’s not just a simple CMYK job, it could now be described as bespoke and certainly unique.

Would you say that it offers value for money?
Absolutely, without question.

Did the installation run to plan?
It couldn’t have gone smoother, which shows how good the system really is… it was effortless.

How was the pre- and after-sale service?
Because of our long-term business relationship with Kocher+Beck this was never going to be under scrutiny.
The company is always professional and spot on.

Who do you think the machine is right for?
Anyone with any kind of rotary cutting, creasing and perforating requirements that wants to add value to your run of the mill sheetfed offerings with low cost and high impact.

Based on your own experience of using it would you recommend it to somebody else?
I already have … I immediately passed the video onto another printers who we have very good relationship with.

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CONCLUSION
User’s verdict
Speed 4/5
Quality 4/5
Reliability 4/5
Green credentials 5/5
Value for money 5/5

Supplier’s response
Steve Horne, Kocher + Beck sales director, says: "We introduced our fast turnaround high-quality die-cutting tools to the sheetfed market because we saw increasing demand from today’s commercial printers for in-line cutting with minimal disruption and super-fast makeready. I’m pleased to say our system has met with a positive response and an appreciation of the added value it offers today’s printers, from B3 up to B1."

Price
B2 set-up cost: £350

Contact
Kocher+Beck UK 01530 275688