Muller Martini to Present SigmaLine, the Digital Solution for Ultra-short Runs at Hunkeler Innovationdays

HAUPPAUGE, NY—01/08/07—With the ability to cost effectively produce jobs in run lengths as short as a single copy, Muller Martini SigmaLine is among the industry’s most innovative “Book on Demand” manufacturing systems. Muller Martini will showcase several SigmaLine technologies at booth #B6 during Hunkeler Innovationdays, February 5-8, 2007, in Luzern, Switzerland.

Outstanding production versatility

SigmaLine meets a broad range of needs, enabling operations to complement their existing book manufacturing capabilities by adding greater efficiency and diversity to individual production areas, or, to create a whole new OnDemand platform.

SigmaLine includes eight state-of-the-art components that can be mixed and matched depending on individual business strategies. Paper is printed from a roll, trimmed and folded inline and finished on an integrated perfect binder or saddle stitcher...all with top-quality precision. Job data is taken via JDF from pre-press and utilized for fully automatic adjustment of the entire system. Virtually no manual make-ready is required, making changeovers incredibly fast. Workflow is optimized with the highest degree of automation throughout each piece of equipment and therefore, ultra-short runs are economically feasible.

Efficient partial line to be exhibited

As an alternative to the complete 8-component SigmaLine solution, a partial SigmaLine can also be used for perfect binding. At Innovationdays in Luzern, Muller Martini will demonstrate a partial line consisting of a SigmaBinder, SigmaTower and SigmaTrimmer – producing adhesive-bound books on the show floor. Thanks to inline link-up to a variety of digital printing systems, book blocks consisting of signatures or loose sheets can be fed into the partial SigmaLine, both manually as well as automatically.

The automated SigmaBinder perfect binder produces perfect-bound products with superior efficiency. Up to 1,000 fully variable-sized copies can be created per hour with in-line scoring and separate spine and true side glue application. If needed, run length can be comprised of just a single copy. The different book data (length, width and thickness) for each individual copy is compiled in the binder’s measurement station and used for automatic, cycle-precise adjustment of all size- and thickness-related settings in the binder. Product thickness can vary continuously between 1/8” (3 mm) and 1-5/8” (40 mm).

The downstream, compact SigmaTower cooling tower ensures proper cooling of perfect-bound books and provides optimal curing of the adhesive prior to trimming. Books are then neatly trimmed on the fully automated SigmaTrimmer, which utilizes a patented principle with three independently driven knife elements and can trim books of varying sizes and thicknesses.

Products are tracked from the perfect binder to the three-knife trimmer in a copy-specific manner by the intelligent control system with data-relevant trim data provided for every copy. Of particular note is the improved trimming technology featured on the SigmaTrimmer.

Cuts are now made in the swing-cut process, against a cutting stick, as is the case with Muller Martini’s high-performance three-knife trimmers. This achieves final product quality that meets the stringent demands of industrial book production.

In addition to SigmaBinder, SigmaTower and SigmaTrimmer, SigmaLine also includes:

• SigmaPress. Totally integrated within the SigmaLine system, provides continuous-feed operation and printing of each job in a single pass.

• SigmaFolder. Produces 4-, 8-, 12- and 16-page folded signatures with extremely high accuracy.

• SigmaCollator. Gathers the folded signatures and instantly delivers them to the SigmaBinder for finishing.

• SigmaStitcher. Produces up to 6,000 saddle-stitched products per hour.

• SigmaControl. Utilizes a JDF interface to combine and coordinate all functions of the printing and binding process.

About Muller Martini
Muller Martini is the world’s largest producer of print finishing solutions for commercial and book printers, trade binderies and newspapers as well as short-run and digital book manufacturers. Muller Martini is also the world market-leading manufacturer of variable size web offset presses. The company is the foremost provider of innovative workflow solutions that can empower printers and binding specialists to enhance processing efficiencies, increase profitability and build new revenue streams. Muller Martini Corp., with U.S. headquarters in Hauppauge (Long Island), New York, serves as the leading source for bindery and printing expertise in the United States, providing nationwide sales and service support and customer-specific training and responsive service to printers and binderies coast-to-coast. The company operates a state-of-the-art manufacturing center in Newport News, Virginia along with Muller Martini Mailroom Systems, Inc., a comprehensive sales and manufacturing facility in Allentown, PA.