What does it do?
With the Sigma three-knife trimmer, book printers can cut books of different formats and thicknesses in quick succession, without interruption. The final format for each book is read with a barcode scanner during infeed and all settings are made automatically, which eliminates makeready time.
How does it work?
It uses a turntable to take each book to the machine’s three knives, accommodating five products in the trimmer at once, ensuring optimum speed. Each book is guided to the individual cutting stations by a clamp to cut the foot, then the front and finally the head. The distances between clamps and knives are individually controlled in all cutting positions, so books of different-sizes can be cut in succession.
How does this machine differ from previous Sigma models?
The Sigma Trimmer was previously only available as part of an inline binding and trimming package; it can now be installed as a standalone trimmer. This is useful for a range of clients who want to combine the trimmer with a binding machine already installed, says Muller Martini project manager Ian Moore. Particularly, digital printers with multiple production units in the low-end range can benefit from having high-quality trimming consolidated in one area – especially when it saves so much time. The solo version also features a large maximum foot cut-off, designed for manufacturers of ultra short-runs, who regularly trim a variety of final formats from just a few standardised raw book sizes.
When was it launched and which markets is it aimed at?
It was launched in September at Graph Expo in Chicago. The trimmer is aimed at printers with a mixed job structure who lose significant time on the changeovers of a conventional three-knife trimmer; printers who want to enter the digital printing market with smaller machines; and printers who print books using both digital and offset processes. It may also appeal to those whose products vary in thickness and size from one product to another – such as makers of on-demand books or catalogues.
What’s it’s USP?
"The Sigma Trimmer’s uniqueness is that you can have five different products in the trimmer at any one time, all of them being trimmed to a different size and thickness," says Moore. "That wasn’t possible on a traditional three-knife trimmer."
How fast is it?
This trimmer is slower than most three-knife trimmers, though Moore says: "If you are doing half a million magazines, you want a trimmer that trims the same size on every magazine as quickly as possible, but if you’re doing 1,000 books and there are 500 different ones in that 1,000, you need a versatile machine like the Sigma."
How easy is it to use?
"If you have the barcodes, you just press the green button and start feeding the products," says Moore. "The users can track the progress of the books through the machine using the operator screen. The setup of the screen is designed to be very user-friendly."
What service support is available?
Training is available onsite at the factory, or in Muller Martini’s UK showroom, depending on the individual customer’s requirements. This takes a week at most, but usually an operator will be fully competent after two or three days. Users can access engineers, electricians, field support and telephone and internet support; 24/7 support from the UK and Switzerland.
What is its sales target?
There is one solo version at the company’s US showroom, but no standalone models currently in the UK. There are, however, six of the inline trimmers installed in the UK. Moore expects an installation of a solo version in the first quarter of 2012. "It’s going to be a limited market," he says, "so we’re probably looking at getting two or three a year installed in the UK."
Specifications
Max speed 1,000 cycles/hr
Max untrimmed size 320x240mm
Min untrimmed size 154x108mm
Max book thickness 40mm
Min book thickness 2mm
Max Front trim 86mm
Min front trim 3mm
Max foot trim 75mm
Min foot trim 3mm
Price £180,000
Contact Muller Martini 0844 875 4590 mullermartini.com
Alternatives
Horizon HT-30 C
The basic Horizon HT-30 is a colour screen, fully automated, single-knife-edge trimmer. With an optional variable software upgrade, it can trim each book differently, which means that the operator does not have to set up each job manually.
Max speed 500 cycles/hr
Max untrimmed size 320x235mm (320x305mm with optional cutting module)
Min untrimmed size 204x136mm (152x107mm with optional cutting module)
Max book thickness 51mm
Min book thickness 0.5mm
Max front trim 75mm
Min front trim 3mm
Max foot trim 75mm
Min foot trim 3mm
Price £33,750 for the colour screen model; a further £5,000 for the variable data option
Contact IFS 020 8997 8053 ifsl.uk.com
Duplo Challenge CMT-300
The CMT-300 is a three-knife unit that can be configured to barcode size-change capabilities.
Max speed Up to 200 books/hour (single-book); up to 500 books/hour (multi-book)
Max untrimmed size 241x317.5mm
Min untrimmed size 101.6x152.4mm
Max book thickness 51mm
Min book thickness 1mm
Max front trim 140mm
Min front trim 3.2mm
Max foot trim 140mm
Min foot trim 3.2mm
Price £38,300
Contact Duplo 01932 263966 duplouk.com
Kolbus HD 143.P
Kolbus says that to make money from single-copy or short-run length production, machines should be inline, which maximises output for minimum cost. For use with fixed-format high-output digital presses, it makes fixed-format trimmmers with variable thickness capability.
Max speed 4,200 cycles per hour
Max untrimmed size 450x320mm
Min untrimmed size 100x70mm
Max book thickness 80mm
Min book thickness 2mm
Max front trim 45mm
Min front trim 3.2mm
Max foot trim 140mm
Min foot trim 1mm
Price £170,000
Contact Kolbus 01908 317878 kolbus.co.uk
