Product category:
Print Finishing (Binding, Folding, Inserting, Stitching, etc.)
News Release from: Graphic Arts Equipment | Subject: Horizon BQ-470JDF four-clamp binding system
Edited by the Printingtalk Editorial
Team on 07 June 2007
Binding System Helps Grow Paperback Book
Printing
The UK's first Horizon BQ-470JDF four-clamp binding system has been installed by Abingdon (UK) trade finisher, Overload.
The move comes as Horizon's UK distributor, Graphic Arts Equipment (GAE) reported a global surge in sales for the new automated mid-range system, which it unveiled as a prototype at Ipex last year The Horizon BQ-470JDF is a perfect binder with large icon-based colour touch-screen
This article was originally published on Printingtalk on 7 May 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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Overload's managing director, Barrie Brock, said he identified the short-to-medium run length quick turn-round paperback book sector as a key emerging market when he and works manager Steven Hookham researched the company's investment strategy at the start of this year.
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Brock commented: "I think we are all aware that high volume book production is migrating overseas to regions with low cost-base economies.
But there is a growing demand by publishers in the UK for shorter initial runs and more frequent reprints and that is only going to increase as we all become more aware of carbon footprints and the desirability of manufacturing close to source and closer to customers." He added: "With four clamps, the new Horizon will allow us to fulfill those awkward 'in-between' commissions for the many publishing houses in this area." Brock explained that it was not just the conventional sector that showed signs of promise as he believed that historically, perfect binding has been overlooked as an option because it was only really practical for longer runs.
That has now changed with the new generation of automated binders and the market was ready to explode.
Brock continued: "A major part of our task is to encourage the many commercial and inplant printers in our region to tap in to the latent demand for this product - it's a finish which, because of its scarcity in many environments - can add cachet to their client's documents and bring them business for their presses." The Horizon machine is said to have given Overload instant make-readies for the very short-run on-demand business, whilst the multi-clamp track will lets the company compete on longer runs as well.
Brock described another factor: "The BQ-470JDF also gives us the option to bind with PUR glue which has a much greater bond strength and better lay-flat properties.
This makes it very suitable for the more difficult substrates that conventional hot melt struggles with." Although the strong global demand for the Horizon BQ-470JDF has led to waiting lists, GAEs' joint managing director, Bryan Godwyn, re-assured UK printers: "We gauged the potential for this product from the response to the prototype at Ipex and we forward ordered on that basis.
Our success with the single clamp binder has been nothing short of phenomenal and we fully expect the same for this." Sales of the machine's predecessor have escalated year-on-year with 34 installations in 2006 and still continuing, on average, at three each month.
The BQ-470JDF looks set to repeat that pattern.
Godwyn added: "Horizon Germany has already installed the first 15 units, since they were involved in the development and they have a more mature market for perfect binding, especially PUR.
But we see that as just one more reason to expect a strong uptake here as the UK moves in to PUR.".
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