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Heidelberg Saddlestitcher Brings Advanced Automation to Franklin Printing’s Bindery
When Franklin Printing, a general commercial printer located in Farmington, Maine, recently installed a highly automated Heidelberg Stitchmaster ST 350 6-pocket saddlestitcher, it opted for intelligent control, operator-friendliness, quality and reliability. The new stitcher, which replaces an older competitive model, boasts central graphical touch-screen control on every unit, automatic synchronization of saddle chain with feeders and stitcher, and Prinect connectivity. The result is a machine with specifications that enable the company to accommodate the larger-format work it previously had to turn away. Franklin President and Owner Greg Nemi said he “chose the Stitchmaster ST 350 to be able to take those jobs in-house.” The Stitchmaster includes a cover feeder, RIMA System stacker and Fenimore punch. Franklin’s bindery also hosts a pair of POLAR 115 ED programmable cutters with Auto-cut, jogger, scale and Transomat off-loader; two Stahlfolder T 36 folders, and a pair of Heidelberg cylinder letterpresses, used for die cutting and scoring. Of the installation, Nemi says, “Heidelberg didn’t cut corners. They took the time to do it right. As a result, not only is the machine performing beautifully at 12,500 cycles per hour right now, but we expect it will continue to perform that way down the road.” With 55 employees, 40-year-old Franklin Printing serves a regional clientele.