What does it do?
We use the high-speed PitStop digital creaser/perforator with the heavy duty, four-plate, B3-format MB 38 folding machine from Encore Machinery. It is an online folder and creaser for digital and offset customers, which can be used on higher volumes when faster turnaround times are required using heavier duty stock. It has a 900mm-long register table and a pulsed delivery table.

Why did you choose this equipment?
To enable us to bring our creasing and perforating in-house, which has given us more control, improved our turnaround times and made cost savings of at least 20%. As a high-volume digital printing factory with a mailing operation, we have three iGen3s, mono printers and two Buhrs BB300 mailing machines. It was exactly what we needed for our type of business.

Did you look at any other similar machines?
Yes, but the PitStop with the MB 38 stood out from the competition because it was the only heavy duty, online solution, which could handle our large volume of work.

What features do you particularly like?
The B3 format, the fact that it’s fast and easy to set up and its stability – once we’ve set it up, we rarely have to go back to adjust it. We bought it with the three interchangeable bars for micro perforating, standard perforating and creasing and it only takes minutes to change them and set up the folder. The folder can handle a number of configurations, including gate- and roll-folds.

How versatile is it?
It’s a very versatile machine – Encore retrofitted a modification, which has allowed us to pull the PitStop away and use it as a standalone machine.

What features do you dislike? Is there anything you wish it had that it doesn’t?
No, nothing.

How fast is it?
It’s fast. It operates at 8000sph.

How much work are you putting through it per week?
We’re creasing around 150,000 one-piece mailers, 9,500 covers and 50,000 micro-perfs on the online PitStop/MB folder every week. We also bring work across from our litho plant to be perforated.

How much time has it saved?
By keeping everything in-house, we have cut at least eight hours off each production run as we are no longer dealing with an outworking firm.

How about money?
We bought it just before Christmas to do a job that we had just won and it has already paid for itself. It was a run of 300,000 Christmas mailers, which would have been difficult for us to send to an outside company because of the variable printing and mail sorting.

Has it won you any new work?
It hasn’t won us any new work yet, although we are confident that there will be applications for it.

Were there any difficulties experienced during the installation or after?
The installation and training were quite satisfactory.

What about the service?
We haven’t needed to call Encore yet.

In conclusion, who do you think the machine is right for?
Medium- to large-volume digital printers and litho printers with runs of more than 1,000.

Would you recommend it to someone else?
Yes – we would recommend it to anybody who has high production and fast-turnaround requirements.

---

CONCLUSION
User's verdict
Speed 4/5
Quality 5/5
Reliability 5/5
Value for money 4/5

Supplier's response
Paul Davidson, sales manager at Encore Machinery, says: “The PitStop AF Speed has established itself as a market leader for the high volume production of creasing and perforating. The new online folding unit has allowed existing PitStop machines to be linked online to a folder that will fold up to 350gsm material, thus enhancing the huge production benefits already associated with the PitStop AF Speed. This unit is modular and allows all PitStop AF Speeds to be run either on or offline.”
Price Circa £30,000 depending on options required
Contact Encore Machinery 01582 668900

---

Recently made an investment?
If you would like to appear in a Me & My... contact simon.creasey@haymarket.com