BINDERY matters
Curtis Picks Up Landmark Diecutter
SANDY HOOK, CT—Curtis Packaging has installed the first Heidelberg Dymatrix 142 CSB diecutter in the Western Hemisphere. It replaces a 30-year-old machine.
The massive, 60-ton diecutter was shipped from Heidelberg Postpress production in Manchengladbach, Germany. From there, the machine was dismantled, then shipped via freighter to the United States. Upon its arrival in New York Harbor, the Dymatrix 142 was sent to Curtis Packaging, becoming the first piece of Heidelberg equipment the company has ever owned.
Now in full production mode at Curtis, the Dymatrix 142 CSB (cutting, stripping and blanking model) with automatic pallet feeder has met or exceeded all expectations, according to John Giusto, Curtis Packaging’s senior vice president of manufacturing. He notes that the Dymatrix runs quietly and vibration-free, even at speeds up to 7,000 sph.
Curtis operates the new diecutter across two 10-hour shifts with one operator and one helper for each shift.
Bindery Manager Honored
LIVINGSTON, MT—The Research and Engineering Council of the National Association of Printing Leadership (NAPL) named Krystal Cipriani of PrintingForLess.com (PFL) its “Bindery, Finishing and Distribution Operations Manager of the Year” award winner.
Chosen from entries nationwide for her excellence in postpress production management, Cipriani was honored at the inaugural R&E Council of NAPL Applied Technology Conference held last June in Atlanta.
“Krystal’s strong record of performance as a bindery manager at PrintingForLess.com makes her well-deserving of this honor,” notes Robert G. Whitton, R&E Council of NAPL managing director.
A native of Hereford, TX, Cipriani has a bachelor’s degree in design communications from Texas Tech University. She joined PFL in 2001.
Bindagraphics Obtains Art Laminating
BALTIMORE—Bindagraphics Inc., which specializes in postpress services, recently purchased Art Laminating & Finishing, a finishing company located in Atlanta. The new company will remain in Atlanta, operate as Art Laminating & Finishing LLC and will retain its Website address, www.artlaminating.com.
Art Laminating & Finishing provides custom finishing, including high-speed diecutting, foil stamping, embossing, package converting, film laminating, UV coating, straight-line gluing, remoistenable gluing, mounting, tabbing and collating.
Additionally, the company’s special projects department provides custom finishing solutions for graphic designers, digital imagers, exhibit and display designers, and anyone else needing quick-turn finishing such as large-format mounting, laminating, framing, contour cutting and drop shipping. The company’s capabilities also include design and prototyping.
Vatican Opts for Perfection Folder
VATICAN CITY—The Vatican printing house has ordered a folding machine from MBO. The K 800 Perfection combination folder comes with Navigator control including Vacuknife.
It will be installed at the historically significant location of the so-called “Tipografia Vaticana,” the roots of which go back as far as the year 1587. The Tipografia Vaticana’s collection and selection of fonts is considered unique worldwide. Today, the printing house primarily deals with printing papal files, official and holy documents, and liturgical books—often in large print runs.
“The challenge for the folding machine in this case is not only the high throughput, but also the use of very different types of paper—ranging from thin printed paper to very heavy types,” explains Manfred Minich, MBO Germany managing director.
Two Companies Install Stitchers
ELKHART, IN—On the heels of installing a Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 105 press in 2006, Lithotone, based here, has opted to acquire a Heidelberg Stitchmaster ST 450 saddlestitcher.
With the ST 450, Lithotone expects productivity to increase at least 30 percent. With 52 employees, Lithotone serves local, regional and national clients in the high-end wood products and fabrics industries.
Meanwhile, Caskey Printing of York, PA, has enjoyed an 80 percent increase in productivity following the installation of its Heidelberg Stitchmaster ST 350 stitcher.
Plant Operations Manager Jim Chioda reports his bindery operators can produce booklets at twice the previous speed, since hand work is no longer required due to automated offerings on the stitcher. The company produces more than 6,000 booklets an hour, a drastic increase from its previous output of 1,500 per hour.
Quick Cuts
Rasch Graphic- Services, based in Houston, has obtain-ed a new Kolbus ZU-804 PUR/perfect binder with a rated speed of 8,000 books per hour. It is expected to be operational in October.
Master Mailers in Las Vegas installed a 24˝ Rollem Doublehead Rollaway right angle unit.
The Printing House, located in Quincy, FL, acquired its first major Heidelberg cutting system, a Polar 137 XT with Autotrim. The system includes a jogger, lift, Transomat loader, conveyor and scale.
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