BINDERY matters

TSK Names HBSI as U.S. Distributor

PLAINFIELD, IN—TSK (Tokyo Shuppan Machinery) and TSK America announce the appointment of Hines Bindery Systems (HBSI), based here, as the exclusive U.S. and Canadian distributor of TSK’s line of perfect binders, gathering machines, tipping systems and three-knife trimmers.

The firm’s “flagship” adhesive binders are the TMA-18, TMA-21 and TMA-24, rated at up to 10,000 books per hour. TSK also provides proprietary sensors, monitors and quality-control devices for its gatherers and binders, and for retrofitting to existing systems.

According to TSK officials, HBSI was selected as the company’s exclusive distributor in the United States and Canada due to its expertise, long history working with perfect binding equipment and its reputation for quality service among leading printers.

Quad/Graphics Enhances Its Co-Mail Capabilities

SUSSEX, WI—Quad/Graphics is once again expanding postage-saving opportunities for clients by advancing co-mail capabilities across its entire manufacturing platform. At the center of this strategic initiative is a new, patent-pending IntelliTrim technology that allows multiple titles—each with their own unique trim size and page count—to be bound together on a single, conventional saddlestitcher.

“Quad/Graphics knows co-mailing,” says Joel Quadracci, president and CEO of Quad/Graphics. “In the last year alone, we have co-mailed more than 1 billion catalogs, so we have already attained critical mass. Now, with the company-wide rollout of our IntelliTrim technology, as many as three times the number of catalog clients will be able to participate in in-line co-mailing.”

IntelliTrim technology allows up to a 1˝ variation in the face-to-backbone dimension with no limitation on the number of trim widths that can be accommodated in a single binding run. Each title can have its own unique face-to-backbone trim size, and the variation from one title to the next is infinite within the 1˝ range. Prior to IntelliTrim technology, trim sizes needed to be identical in order for clients to participate in in-line co-mailing.

In addition to removing the trim size constraint, IntelliTrim also allows a 100-page variation in thickness from one copy to the next.

Excitement Builds Over Perfect Binder Install

ISSAQUAH, WA—The recent arrival of a new Wohlenberg City 5000 perfect binder from Colter & Peterson created quite a buzz at SanMar, which is one of the largest apparel and accessory suppliers in the United States for the imprintables industry.

“We’re excited about adding the perfect binder,” says Mark Suda, production supervisor for SanMar’s Catalog Printing Department, who was instrumental in purchasing the equipment. “We’re adding a new press in order to keep up with the binder.”

SanMar helped increase capabilities for the 5000 perfect binder by purchasing a book block feeder and a collator that allows them to run books through the machine’s four pockets instead of hand-feeding them, which saves a tremendous amount of labor.

“The book block gives us the capability of running four separate jobs just by pushing a button,” says Suda, who notes that the installation process took more than two weeks, including testing, to ensure top performance.

“This is a big upgrade compared to [their previous] system in terms of speed, quality and binding,” adds Tom Welby, vice president of Perfect Binder Products for Colter & Peterson.

New Drilling System Does the Work of Three

SANTA FE SPRINGS, CA—“Since the installation of the Duerselen PB 15 drilling system, our overall production and quality have improved significantly,” says Ray Lewis, production coordinator at Ross Bindery, where the new machine from Rollem was installed. “We find that this system does the work of at least three standard drills with just two operators. The Duerselen gives us the results we need as a trade bindery.”

Defying the Odds. . .And Industry Trends

STAMFORD, CT—Despite recession fears and industry setbacks, Dot Generation is defying industry trends and is achieving success through acquisition and growth. However, success usually comes with a few growing pains, and Dot Generation has turned to Heidelberg to help smooth the transition

“When we combined equipment from two plants, we ended up with some duplicate machinery,” says Owner Frank Leone. “We needed a folder that could handle the size of work off our new five-color Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 74 press with coater, which we installed [early this year].”

Leone chose a Heidelberg Stahlfolder B 26 to handle the larger size of work and capacity that is now constantly pumped into the bindery. “In the past, we were forced to send out some of our scoring work, but with the new Stahlfolder preslitter shaft option, we can handle the channel scoring in-house,” he explains.

Dot Generation produces some significant book work, and because of the continuous feed of the Stahlfolder B 26, the company now boasts a more productive workflow.

In business since 1988, Dot Generation works with high-end fashion and interior design companies, and produces general commercial work on a national level.

Quick Cuts

Racho Dominguez, CA-based Postcard Press recently added a Polar 137 XT programmable cutter with Autotrim and Doerner conveyor to its equipment lineup.

A new Heidelberg Stitchmaster ST 350 has been added at RBC Ministries in Grand Rapids, MI.

A new Saber 116 paper cutter, from Colter & Peterson, is now in operation at Jakprints, Cleveland.

West Trenton, NJ-based Delaware Valley Bindery has purchased a Wohlenberg City 6000 perfect binder from Colter & Peterson.

CDS Publications, a Consolidated Graphics company located in Medford, OR, has acquired a new Stahlfolder USA B 30 folder from Heidelberg.

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