Kall Kwik Ealing has continued its long-term investment in automated finishing with the installation of a Duplo DC-648 slitter cutter creaser.

The latest installation follows a series of investments made by the print business as it has sought to bring more finishing work in-house and respond to demand for shorter runs, faster turnarounds and a wider range of applications.

“We’ve always tried to bring more work in-house where possible. If we can control the quality, control the turnaround and make it work commercially, we’d rather do it ourselves,” said Warren Leaddley, owner of Kall Kwik Ealing.

The company’s relationship with Duplo dates back to 2012, when it installed a DC-445 creaser, followed by a DBM-150 hand-fed booklet maker. The DC-445 was replaced by a DC-616 in 2019, before the business moved to the Pro version with PC controller functionality in 2020.

Further additions included a Multigraf CF-375 folder creaser and a PFi Blade B3 digital cutting table in 2021, allowing Kall Kwik Ealing to handle heavier stocks, more complex folded products and short-run shape-cutting.

“The type of work customers ask for has changed massively over the years. There’s far more demand for shorter runs, faster turnarounds and more creative applications now. The equipment has allowed us to adapt to that,” said Mr Leaddley.

The company has followed a similar path with booklet making, adding a DFC-2200 digital sheet feeder to its DBM-150 before installing a DBM-350 booklet making system in 2024. At the same time, it replaced its DC-616 with a DC-618, providing the ability to cut, crease and perforate thicker stocks in a single pass.

Mr Leaddley said the modular nature and ease of use of the equipment had enabled the company to increase its capabilities without significantly adding to its labour requirements.

“We’ve invested in equipment instead of increasing labour where possible. The automation helps us keep things efficient while still maintaining the quality and turnaround our customers expect.”

Adam Drummond, sales manager at Duplo UK, added: “Every investment has been made for a reason and has supported the next stage of the business. What’s been particularly interesting is seeing how the workflow has evolved over time through modular upgrades, rather than having to completely replace everything in one go.”

The new DC-648 represents the latest stage of that process, said the company, adding further automation and finishing capacity to Kall Kwik Ealing’s operation.