Digital Print Books Benefit From Finishing Systems

Automated Horizon binding and trimming systems have been ordered from Graphic Arts Equipment by The Good News Press after the company visited the Digital Print World (DPW) exhibition in London (UK).

Graphic Arts Equipment (GAE) is to supply the Horizon BQ-270jdf, which is claimed to be the UK's best selling automated single clamp perfect binder with 90 installations since its launch in 2003.

The HT-30jdf robotic three-side trimmer is said to be designed to work in concert with the binder, feeding and trimming books at a similar cycle speed of approximately 500 per hour, said GAE.

The Good News Press's digital books operation includes a Delphax CR2000 print engine, Lasermax cutter, MBO folders and the new Horizon systems.

Bob Loader, whose 30 years in book printing include leading the digital division at Biddles and, more recently, his own Webspeed project, explained his choice of the Horizon machinery: "The quality of the finished product has to be the first priority and that is first class on these systems.

Also important for us is the ease of operation and lack of waste because our business model is designed around ultimate efficiency." GAE commented that Loader's business model represents an alternative approach to commercial book production at Webspeed and now taken on by Good News's managing director, Gavin Knight.

That is said to offer publishers an option to the conventional 'feast and famine' regime.

Bob Loader explained: "The publishing chain has traditionally involved long runs being produced to achieve sufficiently low unit prices, with the bulk being warehoused in a central reservoir and working quantities held at the distribution point.

The Good News service allows publishers to work in exactly the same way - but without the need for the reservoir - by supplying titles in working quantities at the low unit price and within a very short time." He continued: "Of course, there are cost savings to the publishing houses, but there are also significant implications for their carbon footprints since our production process is more resource-efficient and much of the conventional production is now undertaken overseas.

This model also means no title need ever be out of print - it really is win-win.".

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