Print Solutions
In a move to diversify into short run, customised, soft and hard back books,
Ashgate has installed Fastbind’s first Pureva Neo binder in the UK,
together with the recently launched Casematic A46Z semi-automatic casemaker at Minuteman Press in King’s Lynn.
‘We have seen a rapid expansion since we introduced e-commerce and this
was one of the reasons for our move two years ago to a 10,000 square foot,
energy efficient, flagship store,’ said Dan Roberts, sales manager. ‘Online
occasion cards, which we impose, print (on two Irridesse Xerox digital printers)
barcode and pack ready for delivery all over the UK make up a large percentage of our operation. The rest comes from serving local businesses in and around Norfolk with their printing and finishing requirements. Being able to manufacture a huge product range in house has allowed us to develop a reputation locally for same day delivery.’
‘We have now turned our attention to short run, customised books which lend
themselves to online ordering and will expand our e-commerce offering. In fact
we are fulfilling a demand because customers are already asking for them,’ he
continued.
The company did look at a larger, more automated machine before the Fastbind range was recommended. ‘Their equipment is more suited to the variability of our work and the production of very short runs,’ Dan explained.
The Pureva Neo binder is a new generation of perfect binders. The Neo,
which replaces the Pureva XT, is an attractively priced investment for any
print shop to take advantage of PUR technology while having the option of
EVA hot melt binding in the same machine. The semi-automatic Pureva Smart meets the demands of customers who want the speed and consistency that automation brings for longer runs.
Minuteman’s Pureva operator is impressed with the Neo’s new cartridge glue mechanism which he says is quickly and easily changed. ‘We are using PUR glue because it is stronger and gives a better quality but it is good to have the EVA facility if we need it. It also has a paper grain opening microcut roughener which opens the paper grain with little noise and almost no paper dust to increases glue penetration for better binding strength,’ he said.
It has a speed of one to three books a minute with a minimum/maximum binding thickness of 0.1 to 45 mm and a binding length of up to 455 mm and a height of 140/320 mm.
The company also purchased the Casematic A46Z semi-automated cover maker. The automation makes the operator’s work more accurate and covers and cases can be produced quickly with no set up time.
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