B2 Folder Cuts Outwork And Handles Pharma Work

Edited by the Printingtalk editorial team May 7, 2008

The success enjoyed by Tops Design and Print in replacing an outdated B2 folding system with an automated MB CAS 52 B2a system from Encore Machinery has also eliminated outsourcing.

The MB CAS 52 folder with Setmatic computerised controls automatically sets the fold plates, all the roller pressures and sidelay delivery wheels and does all the adjustments on the first sheet of paper, said Encore machinery.

Tops bought the machine with the optional pharmaceutical small format fold unit, which has two additional fold plates and can fold down to a minimum fold of 18mm.

The folding system will fold leaflets at a claimed 30,000 units per hour.

Russell Smith, the managing director of Tops, explained: "We wanted to replace our B2 Stahl folder that was outdated and the rollers were worn with another B2 folder with automated set-up to increase our productivity in the finishing department.

We also wanted to bring pharmaceutical folding in-house, which we were outsourcing.

We looked at Stahl and MBO folders before making our decision and because we are a Heidelberg house with B2 Speedmaster presses we wanted to buy the best." He continued: "We liked the fully-automated set up, which is quick and easy, whereas in the past we had to get out a spanner to make an adjustment.

You can store up to 99 settings in the memory for repeat folds, which is very useful.

It has got a great feeder, which is important on a folder as it has to feed in jobs that may have been perforated, or are not completely flat.

What surprised and pleased us the most is that it can also handle pharmaceutical folding, whereas normally you have to buy a separate pharmaceutical folder.

So basically we were getting two folders for the price of one." Tops Design and Print also bought the optional perforating device and it has found it quicker to perforate single sheets than it would be to put a job four up on a cylinder.