Saddle Stitching Machines — Newest Offerings

New technology abounds in today's saddle stitchers, making them faster and easier to use. Here is a look at what manufacturers are now offering:

The Heidelberg USA Stitchmaster ST 400 is designed to ensure maximum production flexibility. The ST 400 offers an output of up to 14,000 cph and is able to handle up to an A3-oversize format. Features include a color display with a touchscreen and touch-sensitive keyboard, missing stitch detection and automatic format presetting. Efficient controls allow for reliable product and quality monitoring.

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The Standard Horizon StitchLiner, from Standard Finishing, consists of the SpeedVAC collator, ACF-30 accumulator/folder, SPF-30 saddle stitcher and HTS-30 three-knife trimmer. At 5,500 booklets/hr., it is ideal for short- to mid-range production runs. A simple, icon-based touchscreen provides for quick and easy setup with full automation. Up to 0.2˝ can be gathered on the SPF-30, and it has five selectable operating speeds, depending on job configuration and stock quality.

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The new Muller Martini BravoPlus AMRYS (Automatic Makeready System) automates one of the most time-consuming jobs in the bindery: setting up saddle stitching systems between jobs. Job parameters can be entered by the operator, retrieved from the hard disk or captured directly from a company's prepress system via the CIP3/PPF Print Production Format.

Utilizing a series of digitally controlled servo motors, AMRYS precisely makes virtually all adjustments for the job at hand, from pockets to delivery. Capable of producing books at the rate of 13,000 cph, BravoPlus AMRYS is the latest member of the automatic makeready system family, which also includes two other saddle stitchers, PrimaPlus SB and Optima.

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The Best Osako 368AS, from Best Graphics, enables users to set chain timing and stitch head positioning in 15 seconds. Automated makeready saves an average of 15 minutes per setup. Touchscreen module gives total control over stitcher operations.

All feeder controls are adjustable on-the-fly. Runs larger, smaller, wider and narrower signatures. Heavy-duty design for trouble-free, multi-shift production. Choice of tilt-back and moveable signature feeders with quick-set adjustment. Individual feeder air pumps provide abundant air pressure, easily handle both thinner/lighter and thicker/heavier signatures.

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The Rosback 203R is a fully automatic, medium- to high-speed saddle stitcher. It handles books or pamphlets from two sheets up to 3⁄8˝ thick (approximately 120 pages) 3x5˝ to 12.5x15˝.

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The Pacesetter 1000, from Heidelberg Web Systems, stitches up to 20,000 magazine-size books/hr. The Pacesetter 870 model runs at up to 15,500 books/hr. and can stitch products ranging from digest to tabloid sizes in one- or two-up formats.

Independently driven horizontal or vertical hoppers on the Pacesetters can be shifted in and out of production for high-speed, selective inserting. Both hopper options feature two-gripper main drums and single-gripper transfer and opener drums for signature control. Heidelberg's Omniflex controls manage selective binding and ink-jet personalization with single copy control at full production speeds. Additional features include on-the-fly adjustment capabilities, mechanical and electronic sensors, and integrated Heidelberg trimmer and auxiliary options.

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The S2000, from McCain Bindery Systems, is a full-format saddle stitcher with a rated speed of 13,000 cph. It can produce as small as 3x3˝ up to 113⁄4x19˝. The S2000 accommodates all value-added features such as two-up products, inside/outside ink-jetting and selective binding.

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