LG Davis has acquired a Horizon SPF-200A automated bookletmaker and a VAC-1000 tower collator from IFS. The Birmingham-based commercial printer will use the equipment to finish the work it prints on its Xerox digital presses.

Handling work produced by Xerox Versant, Iridesse and Nuvera 144 presses, the “JDF-ready” Horizon SPF/FC-200A offers throughput of 4500bph and rapid set-ups via a large colour touchscreen . The screen can be used for on-the-run fine tuning adjustments as well as storing and recalling of up to 200 jobs.

‘We are a manufacturing printer striving to produce our customer’s products in the most efficient and cost-effective way, so the right machinery is critical for us,’ explained operations director Matt Watkiss. ‘Our existing booklet maker was constantly letting us down and this, compounded by poor support and service from the manufacturer, encouraged us to look for a better solution.

‘We contacted IFS for options and they quickly did the due diligence required to give us solutions to consider. The SPF-200A ticked all the boxes when it came to the booklet making solution we needed. We wanted a system that was proven to be reliable and fast which the Horizon kit was. We also liked its ease of use and its build quality. We manufacture using multiple print technologies – litho, digital and inkjet – so it had to be able to handle all of these. We also wanted a company that would give us a long-term support partnership.

‘The machine is still being monitored but, if it continues the way it is going, it should pay for itself in the first two to three years. I also have faith that this machine will hold its re-sale value – the build and support is really good.’