COLLATING EQUIPMENT -- In the Pocket

The same broad trends that are shaping the printing industry at large—shorter run lengths, faster turnaround requirements, and a shortage of skilled operators—are influencing the way collating equipment is being manufactured, says Don Dubuque, product manager for Standard Finishing Systems.

"Shorter run lengths mandate quick setups and changeovers, because setup time is amortized over the number of units in the run," Dubuque explains. "This is coupled with customers' expectations for faster turnarounds, which means printers need to produce more shorter-run jobs per day. That requires quick setups, ease of operation and reliable performance on a broad range of substrates."