Renz Mobi 500

Paul Forrester, managing director of Ideal Finishing, tells Philip Chadwick that this binding machine has sped up production by more than 50%


Describe your company
We’re a print finishing company based in Croydon. We offer a full range of print finishing services, including wire binding, plastic spiral binding, collating, guillotining, shrink wrapping and multi-head drilling.

What does the machine do?
It’s a semi-automatic, mobile binding machine that can skip wiro or straight bind books and calendars from 50mm to 500mm.

Why did you choose this particular machine?
The specification was absolutely perfect – it was love at first sight.

Did you look at any other similar machines?
We have used Rilecart binders in the past, but found that the set-up times were too long. The size and easy set-up of the Mobi 500 persuaded us to go to Renz.

Why did you make the purchase?
To boost our calendar binding capacity for the coming season. The machine will make us even more competitive than we already were.

What features do you particularly like?
The quick change-over is amazing – literally 30 seconds and it’s done. Also, the computer touchscreen is so user-friendly and self-explanatory.

Is there anything that you dislike?
The colour would have been better in Chelsea blue or Crystal Palace blue and red.

Is there anything that you wish it had that it doesn’t?
A telly on top! Joking aside, there’s nothing I can think of.

How fast is it?
As fast as you can feed it really. Obviously, the thicker the book the slower it will be, but on average we can produce around 900 books per hour.

How reliable is it?
So far so good. I cannot see how you can have many problems with the Mobi. If you’re only running jobs on it that it’s designed to do, it should give you perfect wire shape on all sizes, all of the time.

What’s the quality like?
Second to no other machine of its kind – perfect.

How easy is it to use?
My wife Elaine can use it, so it must be easy.
How much time or money has it saved?
Since we bought the machine, the increase in turnaround time has been incredible – by at least 50% I reckon.

Has it won you any new work?
No, but it has altered the way we organise production and definitely the way our calendar price structure works.

Would you say that it offers value for money?
This binder will pay for itself over and over again.

Were there any difficulties experienced during the installation or after?
No – not in all of the 30 minutes it took Renz to install.

What about the pre- and after-sale service?
Renz offer a great back-up service in case any problems occur with the machine.

Who do you think the machine is right for?
Anyone aged 16 or above – it’s that easy to use.

Under what circumstances would you buy another?
When this Mobi is working a full 24 hours and not the 18  hours that it does at the moment.
Conclusion
User’s verdict    
Speed  5/5
Quality 5/5
Reliability 5/5
Value for money 5/5

Supplier’s response     
Dermot Callaghan, bindery products sales manager at Renz UK, says: "Paul has known Renz as a supplier for a long time and knows the wire binding market very well. When he came to us he knew exactly what he was looking for. He wanted a machine that was versatile and easy-to-use with quick makeready times and the ability to handle all his calendar and book binding work. Installation was very quick and easy and he was producing work straight away on the Mobi machine once it was installed."
Price From £ 22,495
Contact Renz UK 01707 270001