FINISHLINE: Binding Reports, Quebecor Record

Compu-pak, a Carlstadt, NJ full-service finisher, expanded and enhanced its production capabilities with the addition of a Bobst SPeria 106-E Autoplaten diecutter. With average order sizes growing from 15,000 to 25,000 sheets to 40,000 to 50,000 sheets, additional capacity was necessary to meet growing customer demand.

The SPeria can run at 7,700 sph—in most cases, doubling the speed of the older generation of diecutters. Speed was put to the task on its 850,000-piece maiden production run. With the new diecutter providing additional capacity and back-up, Compu-pak continues to operate its original Bobst 1080-E and high-speed Media 100-II A2 Folder-gluer.

The firm offers structural design, Data Technology sample making, laser cutting dies, and auto stripping and blanking dies. Additional services include high-speed automatic and clamshell diecutting, foil stamping, computer-controlled paper cutting/mounting, shrink wrapping, assembly, heat-shrink tunnels, fulfillment and packaging.

Quebecor World, meanwhile, reports it set an international record for catalog production in a 24-hour period. The bindery workhorse was a Muller Martini Supra saddlestitcher at its Augusta, GA plant.

“We established a new world record of 665,401 catalogs produced and mailed in a 24-hour period,” says Pat Quinn, VP/GM. The run involved gathering, binding, trimming, inkjetting, mailing and shipping.

“It's a matter of the right equipment, the finest people and the right training,” he adds.

QW Augusta is a pacesetter in the gravure catalog market, producing products for some of North America's largest catalogers. There are a total of 16 saddlestitchers on the floor, including a new 30,000 copies/hour Supra, configured with 16 pockets. “Our goal was originally 16,000 to 20,000 products per hour,” says Quinn. “We were able to set the record at 27,725 net good products per hour.”

Supra's stitching system has patented two counter-oscillating stitcher carriages (using the Boxer principle), which results in low vibration, low wear and smooth running.

Separately, Muller Martini reports it has increased the performance of its short-run Diamant book line from 30 to 35 cycles per minute. It was demonstrated at an open house in Germany last month running books with flexible covers and flaps.

The Diamant now can produce up to 2,100 books per hour, 16% faster than its predecessor, model 30. It produces oblong and large formats as well as books only two centimeters thick.

At the open house, it was producing books with flexible covers and flaps.

The device is known for using infrared preheating, rounding, smashing and lining. The duration of the grooving of the joint and pressing procedures (details shown) at top speed takes at least five seconds, yet an interruption-free pressing method is still used.