BINDERY matters

Company Enters Diecutting Business

SANTA FE SPRINGS, CA—Established in 1997, Crown Finishing has operated as a low-profile trade shop serving the special needs of the folding carton industry. Until recently Crown's business had exclusively consisted of UV coating, but last fall the company expanded into diecutting with the purchase of its first diecutter, a Bobst SPeria 106 E.

"We saw the opportunity to grow," explains president and CEO Armando Garcia. "As a trade shop we're driven by our customers' needs and the addition of die-cutting and scoring has proven to be very profitable."

The Bobst SPeria 106 E was selected by Crown Finishing based on several factors.

"Much of the diecutting work we are getting is the overflow from our larger customers," Garcia reveals. "Having a Bobst, as so many of them do, allows us to use the same tooling—a tremendous savings all by itself."

Training and support also influenced Garcia's decision, as well as a desire to successfully compete.

"The folding carton business in Southern California is extremely competitive," Garcia contends. "There are any number of shops like ours going after the same business. We felt that entering this new area required us to show that we intend to grow and further enhance the ways that we can serve our customers."

Bindery Increases Folding Capacity

DETROIT—Schultz Bindery, an ISO 9000-certified postpress services provider, recently installed a new MBO 30˝ folder. The addition of the MBO to its existing fleet of folders significantly increases the bindery's capacity for performing all folding projects, especially double gatefolds.

"We got the new MBO with a number of add-ons to get products into our customers' hands faster," says Tom Schultz, president of Schultz Bindery.

"Before the installation, we were already finishing projects that required us to fold hundreds of thousands of pieces. Now we can handle even more of these projects without sacrificing turnaround times."

The new folder has six parallel plates, a double-gatefold unit and a knife folder. With the addition of the MBO, Schultz now has five folding machines, including one 26˝, two 23˝ machines and one 20˝ folder. Also, the new machine gives Schultz Bindery the flexibility to run double-gatefolds on three folders.

"The knife folding unit also expands our capabilities because it is compatible with all of our other folders and can be used in-line with our saddlestitcher to make a hard fold against the spine of a stitched book," Schultz notes.

Schultz Bindery's folding services include signature, roll, accordion and gate folding.

Upcoming Open House Focuses on Bindery

ANAHEIM, CA—Rollem International will host its annual Open House and Equipment Demonstration on March 28 and 29 at the corporate headquarters and showroom here.

This year's event includes actual live jobs, with a focus on high-volume production as demonstrated by the new continuous feed TR in-line die score system. This automated system will perform a one-step finishing process as thousands of four-color brochures are fed into the TR unit and eight-page folder for in-line edge trimming, scoring, perforating and folding, resulting in a high-quality brochure.

Digital and offset printers will see the new Rollem Advantage, a low pile suction feeding perf/score/slit machine, designed for precise slitting and crack-free scoring. "We are particularly excited about the outstanding response we've had to the Advantage and ETR models," states Doug Sherwood, Western manager for Rollem. "Digital printers are utilizing both models and, at times, duplicate systems to perform not only the scoring process but also slitting of ganged products such as direct mailers, postcards and variable data sheets.

"Many printers and binderies are looking for new ways to improve or find niches in the market," he continues. "We take this time to show unique, more profitable ways to utilize Rollem equipment."

Larger printers and finishers will preview two new paper drilling systems including the high-speed PB-16 programmable paper drilling model and the PB-15 fully automatic feeding, jogging, drilling and delivery system, ideal for drilling perfect-bound books, loose-leaf, stitched books and more.

To pre-register, call (800) 272-4381 or e-mail scorwin@rollemusa.com.

quick cuts

FRANKLIN PARK, IL—Delta Press, a 20-employee shop serving commercial and specialty printers, has added a Kluge OmniFold automatic folder/gluer. According to President Michael Naselli, shown on the left, the addition of the new equipment has allowed Delta Press to complete more complex projects, run heavier materials and offer more folding options.

Quantum Color Graphics, located in Morton Grove, IL, recently installed a Heidelberg Stitchmaster ST 270. Since the installation, the all-Heidelberg shop reports greater productivity, quality and capacity due to the stitcher's ability to produce 12x18˝ materials. Founded in 1991, Quantum Color Graphics is a family owned and operated general commercial printer housing 130 employees.

Custom Diecuts of Calgary recently installed a Kluge EHF series press. The Canadian trade shop included the optional wide magazine feeder for feeding larger stocks. The new equipment will work along side a Kluge EHD series press for finishing a range of applications such as business cards, report covers and greeting cards.

Kendall Printing, located in Greeley, CO, installed a Heidelberg Stitchmaster ST350 saddle binder in January. It is a six-pocket stitcher with a cover feeder.

In addition to equipment ranging up to seven-color, 56x40˝ presses and Bobst foil stamping platen presses, Salt Lake City-based Utah Paper Box (UPB) has installed a Bobst-Steuer Foiljet 104 FBR sheetfed foil stamper.

The Castle Press, of Pasadena, CA, recently upgraded its Kluge UniFold automatic folder/gluer. Founded in 1931, the commercial printer chose three-line hot melt glue system with controller and TransTable III upgrades. The Castle Press also owns a Kluge EHD series foil stamping, embossing and diecutting press.

Afterprint Services, a short- to medium-run trade finisher in Warminster, PA, has installed a Standard Horizon BQ-270 perfect binder.

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Fax to (215) 238-5484 or e-mail mmichelson@napco.com