Panaprint Achieves Plant Record With Help of a Muller Martini Primera Saddle Stitcher

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y.—October 21, 2015—Headquartered in Macon, Georgia, Panaprint is a family-owned web and sheetfed printer that produces saddle-stitched and perfect-bound products for the short-run publication market. The company wins and keeps customers because of its product quality, rapid turnaround and competitive pricing.

Panaprint has been a Muller Martini customer since the 1980s. Due to increased demand for saddle-stitched products, and the age and wear of their current stitchers, the company decided to enhance its finishing technology and capabilities by installing a new Primera saddle stitcher in July 2015. The machine is equipped with six pockets and cover feeder, streamfeeders to process logs from its web presses, and ASIR3, Muller’s barcode-driven signature recognition system which ensures completed, correctly assembled products.

With its high net output and ability to accommodate an enormous range of product sizes, the Primera is an extremely flexible saddle stitcher whose modular expansion options provide a sound strategy for the market needs of today and tomorrow. Operators particularly appreciate the Primera’s intuitive set-up wizard which significantly reduces makeready.

According to Rette Collins, Panaprint’s president, the Primera was chosen in order to strengthen the company’s competitive advantages. And, it has succeeded in doing so:

• Productivity—Produced 126,000 books in 9.25 hours—a plant record.
• Labor Savings from Streamfeeders—Prior to the install, one person was needed for two or three pockets. Today, that employee can feed logs for up to five pockets.
• Less Rejects—The highly reliable streamfeeder/383 pocket system runs at higher speeds—with fewer misfeeds and less waste.

The net result of this investment? Quicker turnarounds, better schedules, higher product quality for customers and a reduced unit cost to the company’s bottom line.

Commenting on the company's finishing capabilities, Wanzie Collins, founder and CEO, said, "Today, the differentiating factor is in the finishing. Everyone has a press. But it is our finishing capabilities that distinguish us from the competition."

Rette Collins, also added, "We’ve worked with Muller Martini for many years, and welcomed continuing our partnership with them. We know we could count on Muller for the technology, engineering and service know-how we need to provide a superior product to our customers."

About Panaprint
Panaprint is one of the Southeast’s leading printers, with a 248,000-square foot facility, containing two web presses and one eight-color sheetfed press, saddle stitchers, perfect binder, in-house mailing, fulfillment services, shipping and receiving, an award-winning design team, and expert customer service. Over 90 employees keep Panaprint operating at its full potential by using the most innovative technology to create unique, eye-catching and inspiring print projects.

About Muller Martini
Muller Martini is the world's largest producer of print finishing solutions for commercial and book printers, trade binderies, newspapers and digital book manufacturers. Muller's innovative workflow solutions optimize processing efficiencies, while helping to build new revenue streams. With U.S. headquarters in Hauppauge, New York, Muller's sales and support team provides training and responsive service to printers and binderies nationwide.

Source: Muller Martini.