Finishing Solutions Print Solutions
Flexpress, Leicester, has taken another step towards highly automated end to end production with the addition of a Horizon HT-300 ice trimmer from Intelligent Finishing Systems.
The trimmer works with a Horizon BQ-500 ice perfect binder to create a highly responsive book production solution.
‘With skilled staff in ever shorter supply and margins constantly squeezed, we do everything we can at Flexpress to produce work quickly, accurately and cost effectively by investing whatever and whenever we can into becoming more efficient,’ explained managing director Steve Wenlock. ‘The HT-300 is a perfect example as it enables us to turn what otherwise would have been two individual jobs into one streamlined process whilst gaining productivity as opposed to losing it.’
He added, ‘Initially we considered having the trimmer near line rather than fully connected, but within a few examples of seeing books come off the end of the perfect binding line fully finished with no intervention, we knew we would made the right choice. We have seen immediate improvements in productivity made possible by utilising staff elsewhere in the business and it is stopped us having to juggle staff, or jobs around to trim books.’
He continued, ‘It frees up valuable staff time to focus on other areas of the business that we are currently unable to automate.’
Flexpress also has a number of other systems with Ice Link connectivity and is in the process of rebuilding its internal software systems to maximise the information it provides to help make more informed decisions.
Steve added, ‘In this age, good information drives good decisions, so connected systems give you the power to analyse data more thoroughly and alert you to ways of making improvements.’
The HT-300 next generation single knife three-side trimmer features greater automation supporting higher productivity for short and medium runs. It delivers variable production at up to 300 cycles per hour while accurate and clean cuts are achieved with precision automation. New features include auto book thickness measuring and table angle adjustment. It also offers versatile application possibilities by processing six and eight page flap covers.
It is pre-installed with Horizon’s cloud based Ice Link workflow that provides access to an intuitive easy to use dashboard that reports real time production analysis for improved efficiency and profitability, remote update capabilities and scheduled maintenance resulting in less downtime.
The latest investment joins the Horizon BQ-500 perfect binder as well as a StitchLiner MKIII, a BQ-280 PUR single clamp perfect binder, an HT-30C three-sided trimmer, a CRF 362 creaser folder and an AFC-566 folder.
Pictured: Steve Wenlock, Flexpress managing director with IFS’s Dean Stayne and the new Horizon HT-300.
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