The Bourg BB3202 PUR-C binder
Digital Printer’s Finishing Special continues with a series of pages detailing latest product developments across different post-press technology areas.
CP Bourg – sold by Integra
At Graph Expo in Chicago, CP Bourg announced what it said was ‘the first PUR perfect binder designed for automated in-line and off-line digital production of soft- and hard-cover photobooks, catalogues and other printed colour materials’.
The system was the compact Bourg BB3202 PUR-C binder, and it was demonstrated in-line with a Xerox iGen150 via a Bourg BSF Sheet Feeder and a Bourg BPRF Perforating Rotating Folder. Based on CP Bourg’s BB3002 perfect binder, the Bourg BB3202 PUR-C combines innovative automation with a highly efficient, compact and user-friendly Nordson PUR gluing system that is completely sealed and fully integrated with the binder’s operation. This prevents vapours from escaping and air from compromising the remaining adhesive. An automatic cleaning cycle makes it easy for the operator to purge old glue just once at start-up and quickly resume production.
Producing books at a peak rate of 350 per hour, depending on press speed, the final dimensions of books produced can range in size from 100 x 100 mm up to a maximum 385 x 320 mm, and in thickness from one to 60 mm – the largest of any in-line binder currently available, according to CP Bourg.
BB3202 PUR-C automatically adapts to the thickness of each job to process each book most productively, and sets jogging, power milling and notching, gluing, scoring and suction cover-feeding under programme control.
The device can be configured in-line to operate with a digital press directly, or with a single or new tandem Bourg BSF Sheet Feeder configuration to achieve dual-mode in-line/off-line production functionality. It can also be set up for fully automated off-line production with the addition of single or tandem high-speed Bourg BSF Sheet Feeders; or as a manually-fed standalone binder.
IFS
Horizon has just launched a new SmartBinding system at Graph Expo in Chicago – a solution that is more for continuous feed digital than for cut sheet digital but suitable for both. In a continuous feed configuration it would be matched with a Lasermax unwinder and a cutter. The paper then goes into a Horizon fully automated signature folding machine (the AF-566T4F), which accumulates signatures into book blocks that are glued and pressed (the BDS-40) and then fed into a nine-clamp variable perfect binder (the SB-09V), which can hot melt or PUR bind. The books are then fed inline to a variable three-knife trimmer (the HT-1000V).
This solution can produce up to 2000 books per hour for short runs where two or three books are being trimmed at a time. When doing runs of one the maximum speed would be 1000 books per hour.
IFS is also the agent for Tecnau, which owns Lasermax. Tecnau has a variable binding and trimming solution, the Libra 800, which can be configured for roll input or cut sheet. It is designed for soft and hard cover production but for run lengths of one, with full automation driven by barcodes.
Watkiss Automation
Watkiss’s latest perfect binder is the Lega 420 from Italian manufacturer Mamo (which supplies a range of finishing equipment, including laminators). The Lega 420 fills a gap between hot melt and PUR, according to Watkiss. There are a number of applications that the market considers requires PUR, even with its issues with cost, convenience, maintenance, and shelf life of the glue. The Lega does not use PUR glue but with adjustments on clamp and spine pressures from control panel, it has proven in pull tests on the strength of the spine that it performs far better than standard hot melt, and for some applications it is almost as good as PUR but at a lower cost, according to the company.
The binder also has two clamps that move to hold the book in the middle of the machine (centre registered), giving an added bonus that it can hard case bind too, with a simple change of clamp plates. The Mamo Lega 420 perfect binder costs around £8000.
Tough but not PUR: the Mamo Lega 420
Encore Machinery
The Luton distributor is now selling the NewBind Micra, a professional entry level binder that it says is the perfect binding machine for photo albums and books on demand. At £16,800 it is ‘the most competitively priced PUR closed tank binder on the market’, according to Mike Biggs, Encore’s managing director. Simplified mechanical setup reduces setup time and wastage, and even though it is an entry level machine, it still features the patented NewBind closed tank glue system found on larger machines. This system of glue fusion with its sealed circuit, integrated with the NewBind Cleaning System, allows for quick cleaning of the entire glue applicator unit, saving materials wastage and making it easy to use and economical in consumption.
The machine has a milling tool that is integrated with fibre opening tools specially made for low emission of residual dust. The nipping station for application of covers is manually operated or electrical as optional, and self-adjusting from minimum to maximum thickness. Cover feeding is done manually on the standard version, although a cover positioning device is also available with the possibility of applying multiple creases. It handles book sizes from 120 x 110 mm to 380 x 320 mm, with cover sizes ranging from 120 x 220 mm up to 380 x 700 mm. The block or spine thickness can be from one to 50 mm.
The NewBind Micra is available from Encore Machinery.
Perfect Bindery Solutions
Since Ipex, Oxfordshire-based Perfect Bindery Solutions is working on bringing the products of Italian manufacturer Risetec to the UK market, with a number of high quality binders and three knife trimmers already in production in Spain, France and Germany.
A range of perfect binding machines are available, including single, four, seven, 12, 16 clamp systems, with a range of speeds from 600 to 4000 books per hour, and book formats up to 350 x 300 mm and 55 mm in thickness. All of the models are available with modular endpapering , backlining and cover feeders with scoring. All can be connected to gatherers and three knife trimmers for inline production. All the machines are computerised, with the single and four-clamp machines being perfect for on demand, digital hard and soft cover book production. And all adhesive options are available: cold glue, hot melt and PUR. There are also large format binders available in the range, with book sizes up to 490 x 320 mm.
Also from Risetec is the TL 73 three knife trimmer, which Perfect Bindery Solutions claims, thanks to its separate fore-edge knife trim, is the only such device in the world that can cut books with or without flaps.
Risetec’s TL 73 three knife trimmer
Morgana
UK manufacturer Morgana used Ipex 2014 to launch a new addition to its PUR perfect binder range. The DigiBook 200 was a late addition to the company’s show line-up, with the machine only arriving in UK on the Friday before the show.
The new model sits above the entry level DigiBook 150, featuring more automation than the basic version. It measures each book block to set up the heads automatically, meaning that users can switch from one size of book to another very swiftly and easily. As its name suggests, the product can bind up to 200 books per hour. It is priced at £27,000.
The DigiBook 200 handles spine lengths from 110 to 320 mm and the maximum thickness is 50 mm. Retractable spine milling means that the device can go from soft- to hard-cover binding at the flick of a switch. Side gluing for the cover hinge is adjustable depending upon the cover style required.
Duplo
Getting its commercial launch at Duplo’s London Calling event was the UltraBind-6000 PUR Binder. This is a single clamp, closed tank system that is ideal for producing a number of different jobs in the same day. Hot melt side gluing ‘locks the book in’, meaning it can be trimmed and packed for the customer more quickly than conventional PUR-only devices. It can produce up to 300 books an hour and has a cycling speed of 600 cycles per hour. Complete automation with in-line scoring, and cover feeding is standard. Duplo said the binder is the ideal solution for a printer who has litho and digital presses and is producing high to mid volume production runs.
Renz
The Mobi 360 semi-automatic calendar and book binding machine has seen several upgraded features of late. These include tool free make ready, a reduced footprint, and elimination of the de-spooler for separating paper. The single phase semi-automatic wire binding machine binds books and calendars from 52 mm up to a maximum working width of 360 mm with 12 different wire diameters, and has become popular in finishing departments across the UK, according to Renz. It was part of live workflows Duplo’s London Calling in October, where it also appeared alongside a range of bench-top punching and binding solutions from Renz.
